In a statement, Emerlynne Gil, the Deputy Regional Director for Research at Amnesty International, said, "Singapore has once again executed individuals convicted of drug-related charges in breach of international law, oblivious to public outrage."
Singapore executed a Malaysian prisoner who had been on death row for nine years before dawn on Thursday, July 7th. The execution of Kalwant Singh for narcotics trafficking. Singh had filed a last-minute bid for clemency, but the Singaporean courts denied the request. The death of Kalwant Singh, as reported by The Star, was confirmed via tweets by Singaporean human rights campaigner Kirsten Han. According to Han, Norasharee Gous, a Singaporean who was arrested and accused in connection with the same case as Kalwant, was also executed for drug trafficking.
"I regret to report that both Kalwant Singh and Norasharee bin Gous have been executed. Both families have been given possessions and death certificates. I am en route to Norasharee's burial while Kalwant's family remains in prison "Han tweeted.
In 2013, Kalwant was arrested in Singapore for allegedly having 60.15 grams of diamorphine and trafficking 120.9 grams. In 2016, he was condemned to death, and he has been incarcerated ever since.
In an effort to delay the execution, a candlelight vigil was staged in front of the Singapore High Commission in Kuala Lumpur on the evening of Wednesday, July 6th. A number of participants are said to have screamed "save, save Kalwant" and "Singapore, stop the killing" while holding signs stating "#Putrajaya save Kalwant" and "we can live without the death sentence."
In a statement, Emerlynne Gil, the Deputy Regional Director for Research at Amnesty International, said, "Singapore has once again murdered individuals convicted of drug-related offenses in breach of international law, indifferent to public outrage."
Singapore is one of just four nations known to have killed drug-related offenders in recent years, contrary to a worldwide trend toward abolition of the death sentence. The death penalty is never the answer, and we reject it without exception. There is no evidence that it is an effective crime deterrent."
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