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Nagaenthran Dharmalingam, 34, had been convicted of smuggling at
least 42 grams (1.48 oz) of heroin into Singapore, which has
among the world's harshest narcotics laws. He was hanged on
Wednesday morning, after multiple legal challenges and appeals
for clemency on the grounds that he had an intellectual
disability, failed.
His lawyers and activists have said Nagaenthran's IQ was found
to be 69, a level recognised as an intellectual disability.
But Singapore's Central Narcotics Bureau said in a statement his
actions were "a deliberate, purposeful and calculated decision",
and reiterated court findings that "he knew what he was doing".
The Attorney General's Chambers said in a separate statement
Nagaenthran was given a fair trial and had "exhausted his rights
of appeal and almost every other recourse under the law over
some 11 years".
The case attracted international attention, with a group of
United Nations experts and British billionaire Richard Branson
joining human rights activists to urge Singapore to commute his
death sentence.
The European Union and Amnesty International were also among
several voices that called the punishment "inhumane" and urged
Singapore to impose a moratorium on executions.
The city-state's government says the death penalty is a
deterrent against drug trafficking and most of its citizens
support capital punishment.
Another Malaysian drug trafficker, Datchinamurthy Kataiah, is
due to be executed on Friday.
(Reporting by Chen Lin in Singapore; Editing by Kanupriya Kapoor)
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