Cambodian ex-police chief Heng Pov is attempting here to be deported to Singapore instead of his home country where he fears execution for conspiracy to commit murder, his lawyer said today.

Heng Pov was arrested last month in Malaysia for overstaying his visa after entering the country from Singapore. He is battling to avoid deportation to Cambodia where he has been convicted on murder conspiracy charges.

His lawyer, N Sivananthan, said Heng Pov was now seeking deportation to Singapore, since Malaysian immigration laws allow for overstayers to be sent back to their last point of entry.

"The order issued against him dictates that whenever the opportunity arises, the director-general of immigration must deport him to the last port of embarkation, and that is Singapore," Sivananthan told reporters.

"In this case ... my client's family is prepared to bear all costs involved to deport him to Singapore. We have sent letters to the director-general three times with this request," he added.

Heng Pov is currently being held in custody at national police headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

Sentenced in absentia

He has fended off deportation from Malaysia in two previous rounds of legal battles with the government.

Malaysia's High Court Friday adjourned a hearing for Heng Pov's case until Nov 9 to allow more time for him to consult with his lawyers.

In the previous hearing on Oct 17, judge Abdul Kadir ruled that Heng Pov would not be deported until he received a fair trial in his battle against the government.

Heng Pov was convicted and sentenced in absentia on Sept 18 for conspiracy in connection with the killing of Municipal Court judge Sok Sethamony, who was shot in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh.