Tangaraju Suppiah, 46, was killed in Singapore on Wednesday after being convicted of conspiracy to smuggle cannabis. Despite cries for mercy from his family, campaigners, and the United Nations, Singapore officials hung him at dawn.
Activists said that Suppiah was convicted based on flimsy evidence and had insufficient legal representation throughout his trial. Singapore officials supported the judgment, claiming that he was granted a fair trial and criticizing those who questioned the courts.
Singapore has some of the harshest anti-drug laws in the world, and officials claim that they are required to curb drug criminality, which is a big concern across Southeast Asia.
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Singapore hanged 11 individuals last year, all on drug charges, including an intellectually challenged man convicted of trafficking three tablespoons of heroin. The country’s strict drug policies and usage of the death penalty have placed it at odds with advanced countries and others in the area.
Malaysia, Singapore’s neighbor, repealed obligatory death sentences earlier this month, claiming that they were ineffective as a deterrence to crime. Meanwhile, cannabis has been decriminalized in many areas of the globe, including neighboring Thailand, where its commerce is encouraged.
Suppiah’s case was Singapore’s first execution this year, and he was one of 35 persons condemned to death in the nation for narcotics charges.
