Man of Indian Origin Hanged in Singapore Over 1 Kg Cannabis

A prisoner convicted of smuggling one kilogram of marijuana was executed in Singapore on Wednesday. The hanging took place despite a plea by the United Nations Human Rights Office for Singapore to “urgently reconsider” the hanging.

The person hanged was Tangaraju Suppiah (46), a man of Indian origin. His capital punishment was carried out at Changi Prison Complex of Singapore.

Last week Amnesty International condemned the capital punishment decision calling it “extremely cruel”.

Tangaraju was convicted in 2017 of “abetting by engaging in a conspiracy to traffic” 1,017.9 grams of marijuana, twice the minimum amount that merits the death sentence. He was sentenced to death in 2018 and the Court of Appeal upheld the decision.

In several parts of the world, including in neighbouring Thailand, cannabis has been decriminalized. Rights groups are mounting pressure on Singapore to abolish capital punishment. Singapore has extremely strict anti-narcotics laws.

Eleven executions were carried out in Singapore last year. All of them were for drug offences.