Group slams ‘half truths and misleading assertions’ on death row inmate
Malaysian Nagaenthran K Dharmalingam is expected to be executed in Singapore on Nov 10 for drug trafficking. (Reuters pic)
PETALING JAYA: Rights group Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) today criticised the “half truths and misleading assertions’ by the Singapore government over the impending execution of Malaysian Nagaenthran K Dharmalingam for drug trafficking.
Nagaenthran, who was convicted of trafficking in 42.72gm of diamorphine (heroin) in 2011, is expected to be executed on Nov 10.
Commenting on a statement by the republic’s ministry of home affairs (MHA) yesterday in response to widespread public pressure on the planned execution, LFL said the explanation did not provide justification for executing a person with a mental disability.
LFL adviser N Surendran said the group was “appalled by the half-truths and misleading assertions” contained in the ministry’s statement.
PETALING JAYA: Rights group Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) today criticised the “half truths and misleading assertions’ by the Singapore government over the impending execution of Malaysian Nagaenthran K Dharmalingam for drug trafficking.
Nagaenthran, who was convicted of trafficking in 42.72gm of diamorphine (heroin) in 2011, is expected to be executed on Nov 10.
Commenting on a statement by the republic’s ministry of home affairs (MHA) yesterday in response to widespread public pressure on the planned execution, LFL said the explanation did not provide justification for executing a person with a mental disability.
LFL adviser N Surendran said the group was “appalled by the half-truths and misleading assertions” contained in the ministry’s statement.
Nagaenthran K Dharmalingam.
“Firstly, MHA relies on the fact that Singapore courts found that Nagaenthran’s ‘mental responsibility for his crime was not impaired’, and hence no one should object to this hanging,” Surendran said in a statement.
“However, MHA deliberately sidesteps the fact that the court also found that Nagaenthran suffers from borderline intellectual functioning and ADHD, has an FSIQ score of 69, and that his executive functioning skills are impaired.
“Secondly, MHA’s claim that they have been helping the family with travel arrangements is simply false.
“It is public knowledge that the complex logistics and hefty costs are being managed by prominent Singaporean activist Kirsten Han. The Singapore Prison Services (SPS) has only bothered to communicate with the family whenever Ms Han has made queries to SPS.
“SPS has taken no initiative to help the family in surmounting the nightmarish travel and accommodation red tape.”
Calling the impending execution “inhumane”, Surendran reiterated that executing a person with any kind of mental or intellectual disability was in breach of customary international law.
Yesterday, MHA said the Singapore High Court and Court of Appeal held that Nagaenthran’s mental responsibility for his offence was not substantially impaired. He was found to have clearly understood that what he did was a crime and took the “calculated risk” to pay off his debt.
“Firstly, MHA relies on the fact that Singapore courts found that Nagaenthran’s ‘mental responsibility for his crime was not impaired’, and hence no one should object to this hanging,” Surendran said in a statement.
“However, MHA deliberately sidesteps the fact that the court also found that Nagaenthran suffers from borderline intellectual functioning and ADHD, has an FSIQ score of 69, and that his executive functioning skills are impaired.
“Secondly, MHA’s claim that they have been helping the family with travel arrangements is simply false.
“It is public knowledge that the complex logistics and hefty costs are being managed by prominent Singaporean activist Kirsten Han. The Singapore Prison Services (SPS) has only bothered to communicate with the family whenever Ms Han has made queries to SPS.
“SPS has taken no initiative to help the family in surmounting the nightmarish travel and accommodation red tape.”
Calling the impending execution “inhumane”, Surendran reiterated that executing a person with any kind of mental or intellectual disability was in breach of customary international law.
Yesterday, MHA said the Singapore High Court and Court of Appeal held that Nagaenthran’s mental responsibility for his offence was not substantially impaired. He was found to have clearly understood that what he did was a crime and took the “calculated risk” to pay off his debt.
Meanwhile, Wisma Putra has said it would continue to monitor the progress of Nagaenthran’s case through the high commission in Singapore and provide appropriate consular assistance to him and his family.
Foreign minister Saifuddin Abdullah said he had also sent a letter to his Singaporean counterpart regarding the case.
Foreign minister Saifuddin Abdullah said he had also sent a letter to his Singaporean counterpart regarding the case.
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kt notes:
Knowing Sing she won't give a sh*t to all the protests. She'll only act when there's something to gain for the nation, hence we hear of Sing's 'half-truths and misleading assertions'.
Then there's that Sing who likes to act tough for the world to see She thinks the World will admire such resolve, determination and firm stand - certainly people like Trump does!
It didn't help when some good-doers write letters of appeal to Sing and ask that lil' country to cease and desist from 'barbarism'. When one wants something from someone like Sing, one doesn't make a request which includes an insult.
I am personally anti-death penalty, so am very sad 😥😥😥 to say Sing will hang poor Nagaenthran on 10 Nov, unless PM Lee receives a personal call from, eg. US President Biden or HM Queen Elizabeth to pardon the convict.
If you go to China, respect China laws.
ReplyDeleteIf you go to USA, respect USA laws.
Unfortunately the idiot Biden has stopped enforcing USA immigration laws for illegal entry. "There is no such thing as a illegal entry" is Biden's party line
If you go to Singapore, respect Singapore laws.
For foreigners, The Death Penalty for drug trafficking is spelt out in Big Bold Red CAPITAL LETTERS in their Immigration entry form.
Nobody who filled in the form can claim they are unaware.
No point condemning Singapore as barbaric. Nobody forced or tricked you to enter Singapore.
I actually think Singapore has taken all the criticism into account. If one were to read the Straits Times, there was quite a number of potential hanging cases downgraded (I hope this is the correct term) to jail time.
ReplyDeleteThe trick is to not challenge their authority in public. Working quietly behind the scenes would yield more positive results.
Like most governments, the Singapore government must not be seen to be giving way to public pressure. If this is done, it will invariably result in a push back and the hanging will very likely still be carried out.
Like KT, I am against the death penalty because history is replete with stories of wrongful convictions. You cannot bring the dead back.
I much prefer to let hundreds or thousands escape the death penalty to seeing one person wrongly excuted.