Sentenced to death via Zoom - horrifying new justice system for executions

Staring at a computer screen in the midst of the coronavirus lockdown, Olalekan Hameed learned his fate via the video conference call, Zoom.

Hameed had been convicted of the murder of his employer's mother, a charge he had vehemently denied.

All the lawyers, including Hameed's defence solicitor, appeared before the court virtually - unable to be there in person because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Hameed had pleaded not guilty to killing 76-year-old Jolasun Okunsanya in December 2018.

The three hour hearing ended when Judge Mojisola Dada, in Lagos, Nigeria, sentenced him to death via Zoom earlier this month.

Speaking to the camera he is reported as saying: "The sentence of this court upon you, Olalekan Hameed, is that you be hanged by the neck until you be pronounced dead and may the Lord have mercy upon your soul. This is the virtual judgment of the court."

The actions have been widely condemend by human rights groups, who have questioned why the sentencing could not have been delayed until the Covid-19 crisis was over.

Amnesty International Nigeria Director Osai Ojigho said: "We know many courts are exploring how they can continue cases virtually, but the challenge is how much thought has been given to the process for virtual court sittings.

"In this case, could this sentencing not be delayed to another time?"Can we say justice was seen to be done in this case, did the public have access to this session?

"It's worth exploring if the processes that led to the virtual sitting followed the principle of natural justice and a fair hearing."

There are currently more than 2,000 people on death row in Nigeria.

But Nigeria isn't alone in sentencing people to death using the video conferencing app - on May 15, in Singapore, a man was told he would be executed on Zoom.

Punithan Genasan, 37, was sentenced to death for his part in a drug deal nine years ago and is the first time the death sentence has been handed out remotely in Singapore.

Genansan was found guilty of hiring two couriers to transport 63lbs of heroin into Singapore in 2011.

He reportedly agreed to pay the first courier £1,300 and arrange for a second courier to recieve the packages of drugs.

But authorities uncovered the scheme during the first shipment.

As with Hameed in NIgeria, debt collector Genasan insisted he was innocent and that he did not know either of the men.

But the judge ruled he was lying when he couldn't explain how both the couriers could recall personal information about him.

Singapore is also in lockdown due to coronavirus and most of the court cases had been adjourned until June 1.

However, several cases which were said to be "essential" have been heard remotely, including Genasan's.

Singapore has long prided itself on its zero tolerance approach to drugs and a spokesman for the city's Supreme Court said: "For the safety of all involved in the proceedings, the hearing for Public Prosecutor v Punithan A/L Genasan was conducted by video-conferencing."

But the sentence has been described as "abhorrent" by human rights groups.

Phil Robertson, deputy director of Human Rights Watch's Asia division, said: "Singapore's use of the death penalty is inherently cruel and inhumane, and the use of remote technology like Zoom to sentence a man to death makes it even more so."

Genasan's lawyer said he is considering an appeal against his sentence.