Saturday, October 26

Singapore executes a lady for the primary time in 19 years

Singapore has executed a lady for the primary time in 19 years.

Saridewi Djamani, 45, was sentenced to demise in 2018 for trafficking almost 31 grams (1.09 ounces) of heroin, the Central Narcotics Bureau mentioned.

It mentioned the quantity was “sufficient to feed the addiction of about 370 abusers for a week”.

Human rights teams, worldwide activists and the United Nations have urged Singapore to halt executions for drug offences, saying there’s rising proof it’s ineffective as a deterrent.

But its authorities insist capital punishment is necessary to halt drug demand and provide.

Singapore's authorities insist capital punishment is important to halt drug demand and supply. Pic: AP
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Singapore’s authorities insist capital punishment is necessary to halt drug demand and provide. Pic: AP

Singapore’s legal guidelines mandate the demise penalty for anybody convicted of trafficking greater than 500 grams (17.64 ounces) of hashish and 15 grams (0.53 ounces) of heroin.

It has executed 15 individuals for drug offences because it resumed hangings in March 2022, a median of 1 a month, human rights teams say.

Djamani’s execution comes two days after a Singaporean man, Mohammed Aziz Hussain, 56, was executed for trafficking round 50 grams (1.75 ounces) of heroin.

The narcotics bureau mentioned each prisoners have been accorded due course of, together with appeals in opposition to their convictions and sentences, and petitions for presidential clemency.

Anti-death penalty campaigners mentioned the final girl recognized to have been hanged in Singapore was Yen May Woen, a 36-year-old hairdresser, additionally for drug trafficking, in 2004.

Read extra:
Man executed in Singapore over plot to smuggle one kilogram of hashish
Singapore executes man with studying difficulties over medication offence

In this image taken and provided by Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network, members of Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network (ADPAN) hold candle outside Singapore Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Wednesday, April 26, 2023. 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. (Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network (ADPAN) via AP)
Image:
Members of the Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network (ADPAN) held a protest outdoors the Singapore Embassy in Kuala Lumpur earlier this yr. Pic: AP

Delivery driver to be executed

Transform Justice Collective, a Singaporean group advocating for the abolishment of capital punishment, mentioned a brand new execution discover had been issued to a different prisoner for 3 August – the fifth this yr.

It mentioned the prisoner is an ethnic Malay citizen who labored as a supply driver earlier than his arrest in 2016.

He was convicted in 2019 for trafficking round 50 grams (1.75 ounces) of heroin, it mentioned.

The group mentioned the person maintained in his trial he believed he was delivering contraband cigarettes for a buddy he owed cash. He didn’t confirm the contents of the bag as he trusted his buddy.

Although the court docket discovered he was merely a courier, the person nonetheless needed to be given the necessary demise penalty, it mentioned.

The group “condemns, in the strongest terms, the state’s bloodthirsty streak” and reiterated requires a right away moratorium on the usage of the demise penalty.

Law punishes low-level traffickers and couriers, critics say

Critics say Singapore’s harsh legislation merely punishes low-level traffickers and couriers and the nation is out of step with the development of nations transferring away from capital punishment.

Neighbouring Thailand has legalised hashish whereas Malaysia ended the necessary demise penalty for severe crimes this yr.

Content Source: information.sky.com