Malaysian killer freed after 21 years
KUALA LUMPUR, May 17 — The Malaysian who gunned down renowned Sydney heart surgeon Victor Chang more than twenty years ago is set to be released and returned home, after serving 21 years in prison.
According to a report by the Australian Associated Press (AAP), the New South Wales State Parole Authority today met in private and formed an intention to grant parole to Chew Seng Liew, who had been refused parole last July when his 20-year non-parole period expired.
Previously, the parole board said Chew had not addressed his offending behaviour, however the parole authority said today it had now taken into account advice that time was running out for Liew to return home.
"The Serious Offenders Review Council (SORC) and the Probation and Parole Service both believe Liew will be unfit to travel if his health deteriorates further," the authority said in a statement.
It was reported that Liew will most likely be granted parole when the authority meets in July and will be deported immediately to Malaysia.
The 68-year-old, who has advanced Parkinson's disease, remains in the hospital at Long Bay Correctional Centre and will be immediately deported by the Department of Immigration upon his release.
Liew was sentenced to a maximum of 26 years in prison for firing the two shots that killed Dr Chang.
On July 4, 1991, Dr Chang was gunned down on a street in the northern Sydney suburb of Mosman in a bungled attempt to kidnap him for ransom.
Dr Chang carried out Australia's first successful heart transplant in 1984 and was named Australian of the Century in 1999.
