Horrific details of death penalty execution revealed by retired judge

Retired Appellate Court judge Mah Weng Kwai recalled his experience during his early days as a Magistrate, where he witnessed two brothers, who were convicted of murdering a police officer in Jalan Chow Kit, in 1983, were hung.
He revealed this at a forum on the abolishment of capital punishment last night.
The brothers were handcuffed and had white hoods covering their faces, as prison officers escorted them to the execution room at the Pudu prison. The noose was then placed around the brothers' necks, before the executioner pulled a lever, which caused the platform below the convicts' legs to open up, causing in them to be hung from their necks.
"It was the loudest 'bang' I heard in my life. But despite the loud bang, it was total silence from them (the brothers)," Mah recalled the execution.
The brothers' bodies, however, were not removed immediately, Mah said, adding that they were left hanging for about half an hour, before a doctor certified that they were medically dead.