www.nbcnews.com Open in urlscan Pro
2600:141b:13:78b::2506  Public Scan

Form analysis
0 forms found in the DOM

Text Content

NBC News Logo
 * Politics
 * U.S. News
 * World
 * Culture & trends
 * Health
 * Business
 * Tech
 * NBC News Tipline


NBC News Logo

Sections

 * Coronavirus
 * U.S. News
 * Politics
 * World
 * Local
 * Business
 * Health
 * Investigations
 * Culture Matters
 * Science
 * Sports
 * Tech & Media
 * Video Features
 * Photos
 * Weather
 * Select
 * Asian America
 * NBCBLK
 * NBC Latino
 * NBC OUT

Featured

 * NBC News Now
 * Better
 * Nightly Films
 * Stay Tuned
 * Special Features
 * Newsletters
 * Podcasts
 * Listen Now

tv

 * Today
 * Nightly News
 * MSNBC
 * Meet the Press
 * Dateline

Follow NBC News

 * 
 * 
 * 

More From NBC

 * CNBC
 * NBC.COM
 * NBCU Academy
 * NBC Learn
 * Peacock
 * NEXT STEPS FOR VETS
 * Parent Toolkit
 * NBC News Site Map
 * Help

 * About
 * Contact
 * Help
 * Careers
 * Ad Choices
 * Privacy Policy
 * Do Not Sell My Personal Information
 * CA Notice
 * Terms of Service
 * NBC News Sitemap
 * Advertise
 * Select Shopping
 * Select Personal Finance

© 2023 NBCNEWS.COM

Close the sidebar
World


SINGAPORE EXECUTES CITIZEN FOR COORDINATING DELIVERY OF 2.2 POUNDS OF CANNABIS

Critics say Singapore’s death penalty has mostly snared low-level mules and done
little to stop drug traffickers and organized syndicates.


An activist lights candles for death row inmate Tangaraju Suppiah during a vigil
for him at a private office in Singapore on Wednesday. How Hwee Young / EPA
SHARE THIS —
 * 
 * 
 * 
 * 

April 26, 2023, 6:13 AM EDT / Source: Associated Press
By Associated Press

Singapore on Wednesday executed a man accused of coordinating a cannabis
delivery, despite pleas for clemency from his family and protests from activists
that he was convicted on weak evidence.

Tangaraju Suppiah, 46, was sentenced to death in 2018 for abetting the
trafficking of 2.2 pounds of cannabis. Under Singaporean laws, trafficking more
than 500 grams of cannabis may result in the death penalty.




Tangaraju was hanged Wednesday morning and his family was given the death
certificate, according to a tweet from activist Kirsten Han of the
Transformative Justice Collective, which advocates for abolishing the death
penalty in Singapore.

Although Tangaraju was not caught with the cannabis, prosecutors said phone
numbers traced him as the person responsible for coordinating the delivery of
the drugs. Tangaraju had maintained that he was not the one communicating with
the others connected to the case.

At a United Nations Human Rights briefing Tuesday, spokesperson Ravina
Shamdasani called on the Singapore government to adopt a “formal moratorium” on
executions for drug-related offenses.

“Imposing the death penalty for drug offences is incompatible with international
norms and standards,” said Shamdasani, who added that increasing evidence shows
the death penalty is ineffective as a deterrent.



Singapore authorities say there is a deterrent effect, citing studies that
traffickers carry amounts below the threshold that would bring a death penalty.


RECOMMENDED


WORLDMOM GETS 99 YEARS FOR MUTILATING SON'S GENITALS

The island-state’s imposition of the death penalty for drugs is in contrast with
its neighbors. In Thailand, cannabis has essentially been legalized, and
Malaysia has ended the mandatory death penalty for serious crimes.

Singapore executed 11 people last year for drug offenses. One case that spurred
international concern involved a Malaysian man whose lawyers said he was
mentally disabled.

The Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network condemned Tangaraju’s execution as
“reprehensible.”



“The continued use of the death penalty by the Singaporean government is an act
of flagrant disregard for international human rights norms and casts aspersion
on the legitimacy of Singapore’s criminal justice system,” the statement said.

Relatives and activists had sent letters to Singapore’s President Halimah Yacob
to plead for clemency. In a video posted by the Transformative Justice
Collective, Tangaraju’s niece and nephew appealed to the public to raise
concerns to the government over Tangaraju’s impending execution.

An application filed by Tangaraju on Monday for a stay of execution was
dismissed without a hearing Tuesday.

“Singapore claims it affords people on death row ‘due process,’ but in reality
fair trial violations in capital punishment cases are the norm: Defendants are
being left without legal representation when faced with imminent execution, as
lawyers who take such cases are intimidated and harassed,” said Maya Foa,
director of non-profit human rights organization Reprieve.



Critics say Singapore’s death penalty has mostly snared low-level mules and done
little to stop drug traffickers and organized syndicates. But Singapore’s
government says that all those executed have been accorded full due process
under the law and that the death penalty is necessary to protect its citizens.

British billionaire Richard Branson, who is outspoken against the death penalty,
had also called for a halt of the execution in a blog post, saying that
“Singapore may be about to kill an innocent man.”

Singapore authorities criticized Branson’s allegations, stating that he had
shown disrespect for the Singaporean judicial system as evidence had shown that
Tangaraju was guilty.

Associated Press


we and our partners use cookies on this site to improve our service, perform
analytics, personalize advertising, measure advertising performance, and
remember website preferences. by using the site, you consent to these cookies.
for more information on cookies including how to manage your consent visit
our cookie policy.

continue



 * About
 * Contact
 * Help
 * Careers
 * Ad Choices
 * Privacy Policy
 * Do Not Sell My Personal Information
 * CA Notice
 * Terms of Service
 * NBC News Sitemap
 * Advertise
 * Select Shopping
 * Select Personal Finance

© 2022 NBC UNIVERSAL

NBC News LogoMSNBC LogoToday Logo