Singapore Executes Second Citizen for Cannabis Trafficking, Prompting Protests Against Death Penalty

Singapore Carries Out Another Execution for Cannabis Trafficking Despite Calls to Halt Death Penalty

In defiance of mounting pleas to cease executions related to drug offenses, Singapore executed a citizen on Wednesday for trafficking cannabis. This marked the second execution in a span of three weeks, as the country remains resolute in its adherence to the death penalty.

The 37-year-old individual, whose identity has been withheld to respect the family's privacy, was put to death following the dismissal of his last-minute attempt to reopen his case. Activist Kokila Annamalai, from the Transformative Justice Collective—an organization advocating for the abolition of the death penalty in Singapore—confirmed that the court denied a hearing on Tuesday.

According to Annamalai, the man had already served seven years in prison and was convicted in 2019 for trafficking approximately 1.5 kilograms (3.3 pounds) of cannabis. His request to reopen the case was based on DNA evidence and fingerprints linking him to a significantly smaller quantity, which he confessed to possessing. Nevertheless, the court rejected his appeal.

Under Singaporean legislation, trafficking more than 500 grams (1.1 pounds) of cannabis carries the potential punishment of the death penalty. Advocates express concern that without collective action, this pattern of executions may persist in the coming weeks and months. 

The activist highlighted that approximately 600 individuals currently face the death penalty in Singapore, with the majority of cases related to drug offenses. After a two-year pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Singapore executed 11 individuals last year for drug-related crimes. 

The hanging of a mentally disabled Malaysian citizen drew international condemnation, prompting a reevaluation of the country's adherence to human rights standards regarding capital punishment.

Reference article:
https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/singapore-death-penalty-drug-offenses-cannabis-2380428-2023-05-17

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