Singapore executes another prisoner for trafficking cannabis, its second hanging in 3 weeks
- The 36-year-old Singaporean was convicted in 2019 of trafficking around 1.5kg of cannabis. His name was not revealed
- Thirteen death row inmates have now been hanged since Singapore resumed executions in March 2022 after a hiatus of more than two years
The man was convicted in 2019 of trafficking around 1.5kg (3.3 pounds) of cannabis, said Kokila Annamalai of local rights group Transformative Justice Collective.
Singapore has some of the world’s toughest anti-narcotics laws: trafficking more than 500 grams of cannabis can result in the death penalty.
“A 36-year-old Singaporean man had his capital sentence carried out today at Changi Prison Complex,” a spokesman for the city state’s prison service said.
Singapore’s Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) said in a separate statement that it would not release the name of the man to respect his family’s wish for privacy.
“The person was accorded full due process under the law, and had access to legal counsel throughout the process,” CNB added.
A last-ditch appeal to review the case and stay his execution was dismissed on Tuesday, Annamalai said.
Despite growing international calls to abolish the death penalty, Singapore insists that it is an effective deterrent against trafficking.
Singapore’s 11 hangings add to record year for executions worldwide in 2022
Thirteen death row inmates have been hanged since Singapore resumed executions in March 2022 after a hiatus of more than two years.
Activists said they will continue to push for Singapore to abolish capital punishment as it has no proven deterrent effect on crime.
“They have to commute all existing death sentences.”
Additional reporting by Associated Press