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The Singaporean government carried out the execution of a 55-year-old individual on Friday, sentencing him to death for drug trafficking, according to the city-state’s narcotics enforcement agency.
This marks the third such execution in a week, intensifying global criticism, as the United Nations has called on Singapore to impose a moratorium on its use of the death penalty, particularly in drug trafficking cases.
The United Nations, alongside several human rights organizations, has argued that there is no clear evidence to support the claim that capital punishment deters crime, pushing for its global abolition.
However, Singaporean leaders continue to uphold their position, contending that the death penalty has been crucial in maintaining the country’s security, helping it retain its reputation as one of Asia’s safest nations.
Rosman Abdullah, convicted for trafficking 57.43 grams (2.03 ounces) of heroin, was executed, as confirmed by Singapore’s Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB). His execution is a stark reminder of the nation’s unrelenting approach to drug-related crimes, reflecting the country’s continued adherence to capital punishment in cases involving trafficking, even amid growing global criticism.
In line with the country’s unwavering drug laws, Singapore imposes the death penalty for anyone found trafficking quantities of narcotics that surpass the 15-gram threshold. This rule highlights the nation’s rigorous approach to drug control, reinforcing its stance on the grave consequences of trafficking illegal substances.
The execution at Changi Prison occurred in the wake of another pair of executions on November 15, where a 39-year-old Malaysian and a 53-year-old Singaporean were both hanged for drug trafficking. This series of executions exemplifies Singapore’s unwavering commitment to maintaining stringent punishments for drug-related offenses, positioning the nation as one of the most hardline in the world when it comes to narcotics laws.
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“Rosman was accorded full due process under the law, and was represented by legal counsel throughout the process,” CNB said in a statement.
The Singaporean, first sentenced in July 2010, had exhausted his appeals, including one for clemency from the president.
His execution was the eighth this year in the city-state, seven for drug trafficking and one for murder.
According to an AFP tally, Singapore has hanged 24 people since it resumed carrying out the death penalty in March 2022 after a two-year halt during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The UN on Thursday reiterated its call on Singapore to review its position on capital punishment.
“The use of the death penalty for drug-related offences is incompatible with international human rights law. There is increasing evidence showing the ineffectiveness of capital punishment as a deterrent,” UN Human Rights spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said in a statement.
The CNB, however, said capital punishment was “imposed only for the most serious crimes, such as the trafficking of significant quantities of drugs which cause very serious harm” to users and society at large.
