Death row inmate in Singapore spared execution

For the first time in almost 30 years, a man sentenced to death in Singapore has been pardoned. The Southeast Asian city-state's president, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, commuted the drug dealer's sentence to life imprisonment, according to local media. This was reportedly done at the government's request, even though the verdict was "legally sound."

An accomplice of the man had been sentenced to life imprisonment for the same crime in a separate case. Therefore, the government asked the head of state to show clemency to prevent unequal treatment.

Because of 337 grams of "meth"

The 33-year-old was found guilty in 2023 of possession of at least 337 grams of methamphetamine. It was alleged that he intended to traffic the substance. The man denied this. The death sentence imposed at the time was later upheld by an appeals court.

Singapore has some of the toughest drug laws in the world. Above certain thresholds, authorities automatically assume drug trafficking.

The city-state lies on a key route for international drug trafficking. It aims to prevent itself from becoming a transit point with strict penalties. However, human rights organizations and the United Nations doubt that this will be an effective deterrent.

wa/ch (kna, theindependent.sg, channelnewsasia.com)