The proposed new law will give courts the discretion to sentence some people convicted of drug-related crimes to life in prison with caning , rather than to death , provided they cooperate with authorities in a " substantive way , " or provided they have a mental disability , said deputy prime minister teo chee hean .
Mr. chee , 45 , and his sister , chee siok chin , had already been convicted of libel for an article implying corruption in singapore 's government that was published in a newsletter in 2006 .
" I couldn 't make this up , even if I wanted to , how much justice has been gagged , bound up , kicked , raped , quartered and then , at the very last moment , the dagger plunged right through , " mr. chee said in the open court hearings , according to local media reports .