At the recent Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Malta, Prime Minister John Howard raised with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong a request for a "contact" visit between Mr Nguyen Tuong Van and his family.
Like many jurisdictions that authorise capital punishment, Singapore does not allow "contact" visits between prisoners and family members. Such encounters can be traumatic and are likely to destabilise the prisoners and their family members.
However, after considering the request carefully, especially the personal appeal made by PM Howard, and the advice of the Prisons Department, the Singapore Government has agreed on an exception basis to allow limited physical contact between Mr Nguyen Tuong Van and his mother, Mrs Kim Nguyen and his brother, Mr Nguyen Dang Khoa during a visit today. Mr Nguyen will be allowed to hold hands with his mother and brother.
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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
1 DECEMBER 2005