Commutation of sentence of death

Whenever the Governor-General, in the name and on behalf of the State, is pleased to extend the State mercy to any person sentenced to death for any crime by law punishable with death, the Governor-General may, by warrant under his hand and the public seal, order that that person shall be kept imprisoned during the term of his natural life or for a term of years specified in the warrant, and 97 that warrant shall be as effectual in the law, and shall be carried into execution in the same manner, as if it had been a sentence of the court for that term pronounced by the court against that person and recorded for a crime in respect of which that sentence might have been pronounced by the court.