Singapore slams Virgin’s Richard Branson over death penalty criticism, UN urges against execution
- Singapore criticised UK billionaire Richard Branson on Tuesday for saying authorities ‘may be about to kill an innocent man’ over one kilogram of cannabis
- Singapore’s Home Affairs Ministry said Branson’s comment ‘was patently untrue, adding that Tangaraju Suppiah’s guilt had been proven beyond reasonable doubt
“The UN Human Rights Office has received information concerning the imminent hanging of Tangaraju Suppiah for allegedly using his phone to coordinate trafficking of cannabis,” said Ravina Shamdasani at a UN briefing. “We have concerns around due process and respect for fair trial guarantees,” she added.
Singaporean Tangaraju Suppiah, 46, is expected to be hanged on Wednesday after being convicted of conspiracy to traffic 1,017.9 grams (35.9 ounces) of cannabis, twice the minimum amount that merits the death sentence under the city state’s tough drug laws.
[Branson showed] disrespect for Singapore’s judges and our criminal justice system with such allegations
Branson, a member of the Geneva-based Global Commission on Drug Policy, urged Singapore on his blog on Monday to halt the execution, saying Tangaraju was “not anywhere near” the drugs at the time of his arrest.
He warned that Singapore might be about to put an innocent man to death.