THIRD EXECUTION IN A WEEK: Singapore hangs man for drug trafficking

International

SINGAPORE executed a 55-year-old man for drug trafficking, marking the third execution in the country within a week.

According to Singapore’s Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB), in a report by Agence France-Presse, the man, Rosman Abdullah, was sentenced to death for trafficking 57.43 grams of heroin, an amount that exceeded the country's legal threshold of 15 grams, which automatically triggers the death penalty under Singapore's strict drug laws.

Abdullah had been convicted in 2010, and after exhausting all appeals, including a request for clemency, his execution was carried out at Changi Prison.

The execution follows the hanging of two other individuals on November 15, both convicted of drug trafficking offenses.

This marks the eighth execution in Singapore this year, with seven of those for drug trafficking and one for murder.

Since resuming executions in March 2022 after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Singapore has carried out 24 hangings.

While Singaporean officials defend the use of the death penalty, arguing that it has contributed to the nation's safety by deterring serious crime, international human rights groups, including the United Nations, continue to call for its abolition.

The UN maintains that there is no evidence capital punishment serves as an effective deterrent and that its use for drug-related crimes violates international human rights standards.

Despite these calls, Singapore’s narcotics agency stands by its approach, asserting that the death penalty is reserved for the most severe crimes, particularly those involving significant quantities of drugs that pose a serious threat to public health and safety.(CMM)