Hanging of Marijuana Smuggler Executed... Singapore Ignores UN Objections

Singapore Government: "The Death Penalty Benefits Our Citizens"

Despite requests for reprieve from the United Nations (UN) and human rights organizations, Singapore authorities carried out the death penalty on a drug trafficker.

According to foreign media including the Associated Press (AP) on the 26th (local time), Singapore authorities conducted the hanging of Tangaraju Supiah (46), a Singaporean national sentenced to death for drug trafficking, on the morning of the same day.

Tangaraju was charged with trafficking 1 kg of marijuana and was sentenced to death in 2018. Singapore strictly punishes drug offenders. If the amount of marijuana smuggled exceeds 500g, the maximum penalty of death can be imposed.

After the death sentence was handed down to Tangaraju, there were calls inside and outside Singapore to postpone the actual execution. In particular, the family of the death row inmate and human rights activists argued that the evidence of Tangaraju’s guilt was not clear.

The execution by hanging of Tangaraju Supiah, a Singaporean national sentenced to death for drug trafficking charges, was carried out.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

However, the prosecution pointed to him as the mastermind, stating that even if Tangaraju did not possess marijuana at the time of arrest, the phone number registered under his name was used to control drug couriers.

Meanwhile, the UN also requested Singapore authorities to grant a reprieve. Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), urged withdrawal on the 25th, saying, "We, who respect the guarantee of a fair trial process, have concerns about the scheduled execution procedure."

Criticism also poured in from the international community. Richard Branson, founder of the British conglomerate Virgin Group and known as an 'eccentric billionaire,' expressed concern about Singapore’s execution process, suggesting it could lead to the death of an innocent person.

On the other hand, the Singapore government maintains that the death penalty is the most effective way to eradicate drug trafficking and has consistently upheld the death penalty system. Singapore carried out executions for the first time in about three years since 2019 in March last year. A total of 11 death row inmates were executed that year.

Regarding the execution of Tangaraju, the Singapore government also stated, "His guilt was proven beyond doubt," and dismissed concerns by saying, "Our approach has been effective, and we will continue to proceed in a way that benefits Singaporeans the most."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.