Chu Tak Fai

After arguing that he was forced by a gang into smuggling drugs, Chu Tak Fai’s death sentence was commuted to life by the King of Malaysia.

Chu is a British national from Hong Kong who was facing execution in Malaysia for smuggling drugs into the country from Thailand.

Chu has said that he was forced to participate in the operation by a gang of money launderers. His mother is reported to have owed them money and Chu says he was forced to work for the gang’s smuggling operation to clear his mother’s debt.

Reprieve monitored the case and liaised with the Foreign & Commonwealth Office about Chu’s situation.

In 2006, Chu’s death sentence was commuted to life by the King of Malaysia.