Singapore is set to execute Malaysian national Pannir Selvam Pranthaman on Thursday for drug trafficking, despite desperate appeals from his family and strong opposition from human rights organizations. Pranthaman, 37, was convicted of smuggling 51.84 grams of heroin into Singapore in 2014 and was sentenced to death in 2017 under the country’s stringent anti-drug laws.
Zero-Tolerance Drug Laws in Singapore
Singapore enforces some of the strictest drug laws in the world, maintaining a zero-tolerance policy for drug-related offenses. The government has consistently defended capital punishment, asserting that it serves as a deterrent against drug trafficking. Public opinion, according to officials, remains largely supportive of the death penalty in such cases.
Pranthaman was apprehended at the Woodlands Checkpoint with three packets of heroin strapped to his groin and another hidden in his motorcycle’s back seat compartment. Despite his defense that he was merely a courier, the high court ruled in favor of the mandatory death sentence.
Family’s Last-Minute Plea
After being notified by the Singapore Prison Service of his scheduled execution, Pranthaman’s family traveled from Malaysia in a last-ditch attempt to halt the hanging. They have urged the courts to investigate alleged misconduct by his former lawyer, claiming the lawyer pressured Pranthaman into dismissing him, later asserting in court that it was Pranthaman’s decision.
His sister, Sangkari Pranthaman, and brother, Isaac Pranthaman, have turned to fasting and prayer, hoping for divine intervention. “We believe that God will send people to help us,” Isaac told The Independent.
Human Rights Groups Condemn Execution
The case has sparked widespread outrage among human rights organizations, including Amnesty International. Experts argue that executing individuals for drug-related crimes violates international human rights standards.
“The alarming pace of executions in Singapore since October is chilling,” said Chiara Sangiorgio, Amnesty International’s death penalty expert. “Transporting drugs should not be punished by death under international restrictions. There is still time to prevent this cruel and senseless execution.”
Rising Number of Executions
Between October 1, 2024, and February 7, 2025, Singapore has carried out nine executions, eight of which were for drug-related offenses. The nation remains one of only five worldwide that recorded drug-related executions in 2023.
Human rights activists have called for an immediate moratorium on executions as a critical step toward abolishing the death penalty. Amnesty International has urged the Singapore government to reconsider its position and halt Pranthaman’s execution.
As the execution date looms, global attention remains fixed on Singapore, with growing pressure from international bodies to spare Pranthaman’s life and reconsider its stance on capital punishment.
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