Singapore carries out sentence on Malaysian convicted in 2018 drug trafficking case after final appeals dismissed
SINGAPORE, Feb 12 — Singapore has carried out the capital sentence of a Malaysian national convicted of drug trafficking in 2018, following the exhaustion of all legal appeals and clemency petitions, the republic’s Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) confirmed on Thursday.
In a statement, CNB said Lingkesvaran Rajendaren, 33, had been accorded full due process under Singapore law throughout judicial proceedings.
“The capital sentence imposed on Lingkesvaran Rajendaren was carried out on Feb 11. He was represented by legal counsel during his trial and appeal, and all legal processes were completed in accordance with the law,” the agency stated.
Lingkesvaran was found guilty of trafficking not less than 52.77 grammes of diamorphine, also known as pure heroin. He was sentenced to death on Oct 15, 2018. His appeal was dismissed by the Court of Appeal on March 27, 2019.
Following the dismissal of his appeal, Lingkesvaran filed eight post-appeal applications. According to CNB, all of these were either dismissed or otherwise resolved through the judicial process.
In addition, petitions submitted to the President of Singapore seeking clemency were unsuccessful.
The bureau also noted that on Feb 9, counsel representing Lingkesvaran initiated a civil suit alleging wrongful acts, neglect and/or default by public officers within the Singapore Prison Service. A separate application seeking a stay of execution pending the outcome of the civil proceedings was filed but subsequently rejected by the Court of Appeal.
Singapore enforces some of the region’s strictest anti-drug laws, including mandatory capital punishment for trafficking specified quantities of controlled substances. Authorities have consistently maintained that the policy serves as a deterrent against drug-related crime and is necessary to safeguard public safety.
The case has once again drawn attention to Singapore’s firm stance on narcotics offences and the legal framework governing capital punishment in the city-state.
-wilayah.com.my
