The United Nations Human Rights Office has joined calls for Singapore to halt the execution of Nagaenthran Dharmalingam, which is scheduled for tomorrow (April 27).
Its spokesperson, Ravina Shamdasani, also urged the Singaporean authorities to consider granting the 33-year-old Malaysian clemency and reducing his sentence to prison terms.
The statement came a day after Nagaenthran’s mother filed a final legal challenge in Singapore’s Court of Appeal to set aside his conviction and death sentence.
The hearing is set for 2.30pm today.
Nagaenthran, who is mentally impaired, has been on death row for more than a decade for trafficking about 42.7g of heroin into Singapore, which has some of the world's toughest narcotics laws.
Meanwhile, Ravina has also urged the Singapore government to stop the execution and grant clemency to another Malaysian, Datchinamurthy Kataiah, which is scheduled for April 29.
The 36-year-old has been on death row in Singapore’s Changi prison since being convicted of trafficking 44.96g of diamorphine in 2015.
“We urge the Singaporean authorities to immediately halt its execution plans, to consider granting Nagaenthran and Datchinamurthy clemency, and to commute their sentences to prison terms,” Ravina said in a statement today.
Rise in execution notices ‘alarming’
The UN Human Rights spokesperson said there was an alarming acceleration in execution notices in Singapore, citing that more than 50 people are reported to be on death row.
“On 30 March, after a pause of more than two years in carrying out executions, Singapore executed Abdul Kahar Othman who was convicted of drug-related offences.
“At least three other men found guilty of drug-related offences, Roslan Bakar, Rosman Abdullah and Pannir Selvam Pranthaman, remain at risk of imminent execution.
“We are deeply concerned about the rapid rise in the number of execution notices issued since the beginning of the year in Singapore, mainly for drug-related offences,” she said.
Ravina said countries that have yet to abolish the death penalty should only impose it for the “most serious crimes”, which are interpreted as crimes of extreme gravity involving intentional killing.
“We call upon Singapore to review its long-standing position on the death penalty in light of increasing evidence showing its ineffectiveness as a deterrent and to consider implementing a moratorium on all death sentences pending such review,” she added. - Mkini
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