Supporters hold a vigil for Malaysian national Nagaenthran K. Dharmalingam at Speakers' Corner in Singapore
(AFP/Roslan RAHMAN)
Martin Abbugao
Tue, April 26, 2022,
Relatives of a mentally disabled Malaysian man set to be hanged in Singapore sobbed in court Tuesday and held his hand, as a desperate final bid to halt his execution failed.
Nagaenthran K. Dharmalingam was arrested in 2009 for trafficking a small amount of heroin into the city-state, which has some of the world's toughest drugs laws, and handed a death sentence the following year.
The plan to hang him sparked widespread criticism due to concerns about his intellectual disabilities, with the European Union and British billionaire Richard Branson among those condemning it.
After exhausting all usual avenues of appeal, authorities scheduled his execution for Wednesday.
But his mother mounted a last-ditch effort Tuesday to persuade a court to halt his hanging.
"I want my son back alive, that's why I am here. We are in dire straits," Panchalai Supermaniam told the Court of Appeal through an interpreter.
She argued there was a conflict of interest, as Singapore's chief justice, who presided over and dismissed her son's previous appeal, had been the country's attorney-general when he was convicted.
But Judge Andrew Phang, heading a three-judge panel, swiftly dismissed the challenge, describing it as "frivolous" and a "calibrated attempt" to delay the hanging.
Several of Nagaenthran's relatives were present in court for the hearing. They wept and grasped his hand through a tiny opening in a glass screen at the dock where he was sitting.
Nagaenthran, 34, looked composed and sought to console them, before requesting time alone with his family.
He was originally scheduled to be executed in November but the hanging was delayed as he sought to appeal on the grounds that executing someone with mental disabilities contravenes international law.
He was arrested aged 21 as he tried to enter Singapore with a bundle of heroin weighing about 43 grams (one and a half ounces) -- equivalent to about three tablespoons.
Supporters say he has an IQ of 69, a level recognised as a disability, and was coerced into committing the crime.
But authorities have defended his conviction, saying that legal rulings found he knew what he was doing at the time of the offence.
In an interview with AFP on Tuesday, Branson urged Singapore's President Halimah Yacob to grant Nagaenthran clemency, calling the death penalty "inhumane".
Singapore resumed executions last month after a hiatus of more than two years, and activists fear authorities are set to embark on a wave of hangings.
mba-sr/axn
Martin Abbugao
Tue, April 26, 2022,
Relatives of a mentally disabled Malaysian man set to be hanged in Singapore sobbed in court Tuesday and held his hand, as a desperate final bid to halt his execution failed.
Nagaenthran K. Dharmalingam was arrested in 2009 for trafficking a small amount of heroin into the city-state, which has some of the world's toughest drugs laws, and handed a death sentence the following year.
The plan to hang him sparked widespread criticism due to concerns about his intellectual disabilities, with the European Union and British billionaire Richard Branson among those condemning it.
After exhausting all usual avenues of appeal, authorities scheduled his execution for Wednesday.
But his mother mounted a last-ditch effort Tuesday to persuade a court to halt his hanging.
"I want my son back alive, that's why I am here. We are in dire straits," Panchalai Supermaniam told the Court of Appeal through an interpreter.
She argued there was a conflict of interest, as Singapore's chief justice, who presided over and dismissed her son's previous appeal, had been the country's attorney-general when he was convicted.
But Judge Andrew Phang, heading a three-judge panel, swiftly dismissed the challenge, describing it as "frivolous" and a "calibrated attempt" to delay the hanging.
Several of Nagaenthran's relatives were present in court for the hearing. They wept and grasped his hand through a tiny opening in a glass screen at the dock where he was sitting.
Nagaenthran, 34, looked composed and sought to console them, before requesting time alone with his family.
He was originally scheduled to be executed in November but the hanging was delayed as he sought to appeal on the grounds that executing someone with mental disabilities contravenes international law.
He was arrested aged 21 as he tried to enter Singapore with a bundle of heroin weighing about 43 grams (one and a half ounces) -- equivalent to about three tablespoons.
Supporters say he has an IQ of 69, a level recognised as a disability, and was coerced into committing the crime.
But authorities have defended his conviction, saying that legal rulings found he knew what he was doing at the time of the offence.
In an interview with AFP on Tuesday, Branson urged Singapore's President Halimah Yacob to grant Nagaenthran clemency, calling the death penalty "inhumane".
Singapore resumed executions last month after a hiatus of more than two years, and activists fear authorities are set to embark on a wave of hangings.
mba-sr/axn
Branson urges Singapore not to execute disabled man
British tycoon Richard Branson has said it would be 'inhumane' for Singapore to execute Nagaenthran K. Dharmalingam
British tycoon Richard Branson on Tuesday urged Singapore to spare the life of a mentally disabled Malaysian facing execution, telling AFP the death penalty was a "horrible blotch" on the city-state's reputation.
Nagaenthran K. Dharmalingam, convicted of trafficking a small amount of heroin into Singapore, is due to be hanged on Wednesday after more than a decade on death row.
The planned execution has sparked an international outcry, with the United Nations and European Union among those condemning a punishment they say is cruel and ineffective as a deterrent.
In an interview with AFP, Branson, a long-time campaigner against the death penalty, urged Singaporean President Halimah Yacob to grant Nagaenthran clemency.
"I really just hope that on Wednesday evening, she does not have this young man's death on her hands," said the billionaire founder of Virgin Group.
Branson, who is part of a group with other business leaders that campaigns against capital punishment, said they were urging the president to pardon Nagaenthran.
"We just beg her to grant him clemency. We beg her to reconsider whether in this day and age Singapore should... be in the business of hanging people.
"It's just so inhumane".
"I don't think civilised countries should be in the business of killing their own people, or killing anybody," he added.
While the president’s role is largely ceremonial in Singapore, Halimah has the power to grant clemency, which is effectively Nagaenthran’s last chance to be spared after exhausting the usual appeals process.
- 'Abolish the death penalty' -
Branson said he had "enormous respect" for the financial hub, but that capital punishment was the one aspect of Singapore that was "really negative".
"It's the one horrible blotch on its reputation," the 71-year-old said, speaking via video call from his home in the British Virgin Islands.
He urged the city-state to "abolish the death penalty altogether" and "do what most other civilised countries have done".
Nagaenthran, 34, was originally scheduled to be executed in November but lodged an appeal that was finally rejected by Singapore's top court last month.
He was arrested aged 21 as he tried to enter Singapore with a bundle of heroin weighing about 43 grams (one and a half ounces) -- equivalent to about three tablespoons.
Supporters say he has an IQ of 69, a level recognised as a disability, and was coerced into committing the crime.
But authorities have defended his conviction, saying that legal rulings found he knew what he was doing at the time of the offence.
His mother will mount a further legal challenge at Singapore's Court of Appeal later Tuesday.
Chances of success look slim, but Branson urged the judge hearing the case to "have some humanity for the mother of this young man".
Nagaenthran's case has also generated some concern in Singapore, and hundreds of people held a candlelight vigil at a downtown park late Monday to protest the looming execution.
After a hiatus of more than two years, Singapore resumed executions last month when it put a drug trafficker to death.
Activists fear authorities are now set to embark on a wave of executions -- another Malaysian convicted of drugs offences is scheduled to be hanged Friday, while several other death row convicts recently had appeals rejected.
Singapore defends its use of the death penalty, which it maintains for several offences. Authorities insist that it has helped keep the city-state one of Asia's safest places.
sr/cwl
British tycoon Richard Branson has said it would be 'inhumane' for Singapore to execute Nagaenthran K. Dharmalingam
(AFP/Daniel LEAL)
Sam Reeves
Mon, April 25, 2022
Sam Reeves
Mon, April 25, 2022
British tycoon Richard Branson on Tuesday urged Singapore to spare the life of a mentally disabled Malaysian facing execution, telling AFP the death penalty was a "horrible blotch" on the city-state's reputation.
Nagaenthran K. Dharmalingam, convicted of trafficking a small amount of heroin into Singapore, is due to be hanged on Wednesday after more than a decade on death row.
The planned execution has sparked an international outcry, with the United Nations and European Union among those condemning a punishment they say is cruel and ineffective as a deterrent.
In an interview with AFP, Branson, a long-time campaigner against the death penalty, urged Singaporean President Halimah Yacob to grant Nagaenthran clemency.
"I really just hope that on Wednesday evening, she does not have this young man's death on her hands," said the billionaire founder of Virgin Group.
Branson, who is part of a group with other business leaders that campaigns against capital punishment, said they were urging the president to pardon Nagaenthran.
"We just beg her to grant him clemency. We beg her to reconsider whether in this day and age Singapore should... be in the business of hanging people.
"It's just so inhumane".
"I don't think civilised countries should be in the business of killing their own people, or killing anybody," he added.
While the president’s role is largely ceremonial in Singapore, Halimah has the power to grant clemency, which is effectively Nagaenthran’s last chance to be spared after exhausting the usual appeals process.
- 'Abolish the death penalty' -
Branson said he had "enormous respect" for the financial hub, but that capital punishment was the one aspect of Singapore that was "really negative".
"It's the one horrible blotch on its reputation," the 71-year-old said, speaking via video call from his home in the British Virgin Islands.
He urged the city-state to "abolish the death penalty altogether" and "do what most other civilised countries have done".
Nagaenthran, 34, was originally scheduled to be executed in November but lodged an appeal that was finally rejected by Singapore's top court last month.
He was arrested aged 21 as he tried to enter Singapore with a bundle of heroin weighing about 43 grams (one and a half ounces) -- equivalent to about three tablespoons.
Supporters say he has an IQ of 69, a level recognised as a disability, and was coerced into committing the crime.
But authorities have defended his conviction, saying that legal rulings found he knew what he was doing at the time of the offence.
His mother will mount a further legal challenge at Singapore's Court of Appeal later Tuesday.
Chances of success look slim, but Branson urged the judge hearing the case to "have some humanity for the mother of this young man".
Nagaenthran's case has also generated some concern in Singapore, and hundreds of people held a candlelight vigil at a downtown park late Monday to protest the looming execution.
After a hiatus of more than two years, Singapore resumed executions last month when it put a drug trafficker to death.
Activists fear authorities are now set to embark on a wave of executions -- another Malaysian convicted of drugs offences is scheduled to be hanged Friday, while several other death row convicts recently had appeals rejected.
Singapore defends its use of the death penalty, which it maintains for several offences. Authorities insist that it has helped keep the city-state one of Asia's safest places.
sr/cwl
No comments:
Post a Comment