Nagaenthran K Dharmalingam was arrested in 2009 for trafficking a small amount of heroin in the city-state, which has some of the harshest drug laws in the world, and was sentenced to death the following year. He was originally scheduled to be hanged in November, but the plan sparked criticism over concerns about his mental disabilities, with the European Union and British billionaire Richard Branson among those who condemned the decision. The 34-year-old filed a final appeal, with his lawyers arguing that the execution of someone with a mental disability is contrary to international law. However, the appeals court rejected the challenge on Tuesday, with Singapore Supreme Court Justice Sundaresh Menon saying it “had no real and legal basis”. Nagaenthran had “ordered due process” and his defense had not submitted “anything to suggest he had a case”, he said, accusing the Malaysian’s lawyers of abusing the trial to delay the hanging. Nagaenthran, wearing a purple prison uniform and a white face mask, looked sad throughout the process. Mr Ravi, a human rights lawyer assisting in the case, said no further appeals would be lodged and that the execution could take place in a few days. Speaking to Agence France-Presse from Malaysia, Sarmila Dharmalingam’s sister wept as she said the family was “devastated by the court ruling”. “We are shocked by the court decision despite the fact that my brother… has a low IQ.” His long-term case was “a horrible ordeal for us,” he added. Maya Foa, director of the Reprieve death penalty organization, said she was “extremely concerned about the hasty hearings and rulings in this case”. “Nagaenthran should be protected from the death penalty because of his mental disability. “The shocking fact that he thinks he is going home to his family and talking about sharing home-cooked meals with them shows that he does not fully understand that he is facing execution and does not have the mental capacity to execute.” The appeal was due months ago, but was delayed after Nagaenthran was attacked by Covid-19. There have been no executions in Singapore since 2019, but concerns are growing that the city-state is preparing to hang several drug traffickers in the coming months. Singapore is one of more than 30 countries in the world where drug-related offenses continue to be punishable by death, according to Amnesty International. Nagaenthran was arrested at the age of 21 after a bundle of heroin weighing about 43 grams – equivalent to about three tablespoons – was found tied to his thigh as he tried to enter Singapore. Proponents say he has an IQ of 69 – a level recognized as a disability – and was forced to commit the crime. But authorities defended his conviction, saying the legal rulings had shown he “knew what he was doing” at the time of the crime. The city-state maintains the death penalty for many offenses, including drug trafficking and murder, and insists it has helped keep Singapore one of Asia’s safest places.
