Death sentence imposed on Rosman Abdullah, a 55-year-old Singaporean. Criticism from human rights groups and the UN, which questions the city-state’s extremely strict laws, calling into question their effectiveness in deterring drug trafficking. 24 death sentences have already been carried out since the resumption two years ago following the Covid-related lockdown.
Singapore – () – A 55-year-old man was hanged on Friday for trafficking illegal drugs. Singapore citizen Rosman Abdullah is the third drug trafficker sentenced to death in a week under the city-state’s tough anti-drug laws.
Rosman’s execution came exactly a week after that of a 39-year-old Malaysian and a 53-year-old Singaporean for similar drug trafficking offences.
The UN called for an end to these hangings, while Amnesty International condemned Rosman’s execution as “chilling” and “extremely alarming.” Human rights groups say the death penalty has no proven deterrent effect and have called for its abolition, but Singapore authorities insist it would help make the country one of the safest cities in Asia.
The Singapore Narcotics Bureau (CNB) reported that the death sentence had been carried out against Rosman Abdullah, convicted of trafficking 57.43 grams of heroin. Under the country’s strict anti-drug laws, the death penalty is imposed for any amount above the 15-gram threshold. According to the CNB, in the trial Rosman was granted all the prerogatives provided by law.
Convicted in July 2010, Rosman had exhausted his avenues of appeal, including seeking an act of clemency from the president. His execution is the eighth this year in the city-state, seven for drug trafficking crimes and one for murder.
Singapore, with its reputation as a modern city-state and international financial center, has hanged 24 people since it resumed carrying out the death penalty in March 2022, after a two-year hiatus during the Covid-19 pandemic. The spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ravina Shamdasani, reiterated her call for the country to reconsider its position: “The use of the death penalty for drug-related crimes is incompatible with international law,” she stated. , emphasizing the mounting evidence demonstrating the ineffectiveness of capital punishment as a deterrent.
Singapore is one of the few countries – including Indonesia, China and North Korea – that provide the death penalty for drug-related crimes. Last year, Malaysia formally passed new legislation to abolish the mandatory death penalty for a range of serious crimes, including murder, drug trafficking, treason and terrorism. Instead, Malaysian courts now have the option of imposing prison sentences of up to 40 years.
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