Despite the holding of a candlelight vigil as well as last minute plea by his mother, convicted Malaysian drug trafficker Nagaenthran Dharmalingam was executed this morning (27 April).
According to Reuters, his brother Navin Kumar, said by telephone that the execution had been carried out and that his body would be sent back to Malaysia where a funeral would be held in Ipoh.
Nagaenthran had been on death row for more than a decade for trafficking 44 grams of heroin into Singapore. His lawyers had filed multiple appeals against his execution based on the fact that he was intellectually disabled.
Just yesterday, (26 April), the Singapore court turned down a legal challenge put forward by Nagaenthran’s mother.
At the end of Tuesday’s hearing, Dharmalingam and his family reached through a gap in a glass screen to grasp each others’ hands tightly as they wept whilst his cries of “ma” could be heard around the courtroom.
He was supposed to have been executed on 10 November, 2021, but found temporary relief after the court was told that he had tested positive for Covid-19 when he appeared for a last-ditch attempt against his death sentence.
His case drew international attention from celebrities as well as human rights groups, with British billionaire Richard Branson and actor Stephen Fry among those who had urged Singapore to spare his life.
On 7 November, 2021, it was reported that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob had written to his Singapore counterpart, Lee Hsien Loong, seeking leniency in the case.
However, Singapore President Halimah Yacob said that Nagaenthran had been accorded full due process under the law.
Rest in peace Nagaenthran. We would like to offer our sincerest condolences to his family.
Also read: Singaporeans Hold Candlelight Vigil For Nagaenthran Who Will Be Executed on 27 April
