KUALA LUMPUR, Sept. 22 -- Singapore's use of the mandatory death penalty is facing mounting criticism, as affected families and rights groups highlight what they describe as systemic injustices, prosecutorial overreach and worsening conditions for prisoners on death row.

Decisions on how to frame charges, prosecute cases, and whether to grant a certificate of substantive assistance have direct implications for prisoners like Pannir Selvam Pranthaman.

"To us, this really reinforces the unjust and arbitrary nature of the mandatory death penalty.

"And in our experience, we've heard from family members of people still on death row, or those already executed, that while they are very happy some have received clemency after so many years, it...