Singapore put a convicted drug trafficker to dying Wednesday after the city-state defended its hard-line strategy to narcotics offenses from worldwide critics.

Tangaraju Suppiah, a 46-year-old native of Singapore, was hanged in Changi Prison, the Singapore Prison Service mentioned in an announcement to CNN. He was convicted and sentenced to dying in 2018 for trying to site visitors over 2 kilos of hashish.

Suppiah appealed the decision in 2019, however it was upheld by the courts. Attempts to hunt presidential clemency had been additionally unsuccessful.

Suppiah was the primary prisoner executed in Singapore this 12 months. The nation hanged 11 prisoners in 2022, all of whom had been convicted on drug prices, in accordance with Statista.

The execution garnered worldwide consideration from human rights teams and celebrities. 

Amnesty International mentioned in an announcement final week that the proof used to safe Suppiah’s conviction stood on weak grounds.

“Tangaraju’s conviction relied mainly on statements from his police interrogation — taken without a lawyer and interpreter present — and the testimony of his two co-accused, one of which had his charges dismissed,” Amnesty International wrote.

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Ravina Shamdasani expressed comparable considerations about Suppiah’s trial. In a Tuesday press launch, she urged Singapore to rethink the execution in an effort to “fully respect the most fundamental of human rights — the right to life.”

British billionaire Richard Branson additionally spoke out towards the proof used to convict Suppiah. In a Sunday weblog submit, he mentioned the prosecution didn’t meet the usual of “beyond a reasonable doubt.”

Further, Mr. Branson took purpose at Singapore’s use of capital punishment extra broadly by arguing that it doesn’t have the meant deterrent impact.

“From the vantage point of the Global Commission on Drug Policy, of which I am a member, Tangaraju’s execution will not make Singapore any safer than it already is, and it will do absolutely nothing to stop the flow of illicit drugs into the city state,” the Virgin Group founder wrote.

Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs shot again at Mr. Branson on Tuesday, saying that Suppiah’s guilt was proved in courtroom and that the billionaire has ignored statistics in regards to the dying penalty’s deterrent impact, in accordance with Channel News Asia.

The MHA mentioned that features a 15%-19% discount in individuals keen to interrupt the regulation 4 years after the coverage was carried out.

“Singapore’s policies on drugs and the death penalty are derived from our own experience,” the ministry wrote. “Our approach has worked for us, and we will continue charting our own path according to what is in the best interests of Singaporeans.”

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