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

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Family members gather by Malaysian national Nagaenthran K. Dharmalingam’s coffin in Malaysia’s Tanjung Rambutan on Thursday, after he was executed for trafficking heroin into Singapore. Photo: AFP

Reutersin Singapore

Published: 3:03pm, 28 Apr 2022Updated: 3:36pm, 28 Apr 2022

Singapore authorities have defended a decision to execute a Malaysian drug trafficker, in response to international criticism over their use of the death penalty.

Nagaenthran K. Dharmalingam, 34, had been convicted of smuggling at least 42 grams (1.48 ounces) of heroin into Singapore, which has among the world’s harshest narcotics laws. He was hanged on Wednesday morning, after multiple legal challenges and appeals for clemency on the grounds that he had an intellectual disability, failed.

His lawyers and activists have said Nagaenthran’s IQ was found to be 69, a level recognised as an intellectual disability.

A family member reacts as the coffin carrying the body of Malaysian national Nagaenthran K. Dharmalingam arrives in Tanjung Rambutan, Malaysia, on Thursday. Photo: AFP

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”.

The case attracted international attention, with a group of United Nations experts and British billionaire Richard Branson joining human rights activists to urge Singapore to commute his death sentence.