Singapore Hangs Second Man in Three Weeks on Cannabis-Related Charges

For the second time in three weeks, Singaporean authorities have hanged a man on non-violent cannabis-related charges in what critics called a “serial murder”.

A 37-year-old Malay man living in Singapore, whose family requested anonymity, was executed at Changi Prison in the east of the city on suspicion of trafficking 1.5 kilograms (3.3 pounds) of cannabis. This is considered commercial delivery in his one of the US legal markets.

He tried to appeal at the last minute, but was executed even though it was dismissed by the court without a hearing. al jazeera report Singapore authorities hanged 11 people on drug-related charges last year after a moratorium on killings amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Over 1 pound of cannabis carries the death penalty: Under Singapore’s unusually strict drug laws, trafficking more than 500 grams (1.1 pounds) can lead to the death penalty. According to Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), “Drug traffickers are less likely to engage in drug trafficking and reduce the volume of drug trafficking if they know there are penalties.” Claimmentions the use of the death penalty by hanging.

Kokila Anamaray of the Transformative Justice Collective said he was convicted of trafficking about 1.5 kilograms of cannabis in 2019.

“I fear that this murder will continue in the coming weeks and months if we do not come together to stop it,” said Annamalai. Associated Press.

The man said authorities lied about the amount of cannabis involved and that it was actually less than claimed. The man appealed to reopen the case based on fingerprints and DNA evidence related to much smaller amounts of cannabis that he admitted to possessing, but the court denied it.

Tangaraj Spear, 46, was executed in the early hours of April 26 after refusing to step up anti-death penalty activists to end brutal executions in the country.

Tangaraj was originally sentenced to death on 9 October 2018 for trying to smuggle more than a kilo of cannabis into Singapore. He was originally detained in 2014 for taking drugs and failing to report to a drug test.

Tangaraj was also performed at Changi Prison in Singapore.

Longtime opponents of the death penalty, British billionaire Sir Richard Branson and a group of world leaders have called for action in a disturbing case against a potentially innocent man.

Hangings were carried out in the following countries: Cane people for tagging walls far harsher penalties than those found in the United States

Nagaentran DharmalingamHis case sparked a Malaysian with a learning disability who was executed last year on drug charges. protest, which is a rarity in Singapore. For many years, Singapore “Malayophobia” There is another factor that complicates such cases.

Harm Reduction International (HRI) said in a March report that despite global moves to abolish the death penalty, At least 285 executions were carried out on drug-related charges last yearThat’s more than double the number from last year.

Singapore is not alone in applying medieval penalties for drugs. HRI reminds readers that China, Vietnam and North Korea also execute people on non-violent drug charges.