Singapore defends execution of Malaysian Nagaenthran K. Dharmalingam: ‘He knew what he was doing’
- Nagaenthran K. Dharmalingam, who had an IQ of 69, was hanged on Wednesday after being convicted of smuggling 42 grams of heroin into Singapore
- The Central Narcotics Bureau and Attorney General’s Chambers both issued statements defending the use of the death penalty following international criticism
His lawyers and activists have said Nagaenthran’s IQ was found to be 69, a level recognised as an intellectual disability.
But Singapore’s Central Narcotics Bureau said in a statement late on Wednesday that Nagaenthran’s actions were “a deliberate, purposeful and calculated decision”, and reiterated court findings that “he knew what he was doing”.
The Attorney General’s Chambers said in a separate statement that Nagaenthran was given a fair trial and had “exhausted his rights of appeal and almost every other recourse under the law over some 11 years”.
Singapore hangs Malaysian man with low IQ after last appeal dismissed
The European Union and Amnesty International were also among several voices that called the punishment “inhumane” and urged Singapore to impose a moratorium on executions.
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Pushback against death penalty in Singapore for intellectually-disabled man
The city state’s government says the death penalty is a deterrent against drug trafficking and most of its citizens support capital punishment.
Another Malaysian drug trafficker, Datchinamurthy Kataiah, is set to be executed on Friday.
