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Agence France-Presse

Singapore hanged a Malaysian heroin trafficker on Friday, despite appeals from his homeland to stay a “heart-wrenching” execution that critics said was too extreme for a low-level drug mule.
The city state, known for strict enforcement of laws and low crime rates, steadfastly maintains that capital punishment is an effective deterrent against crime despite appeals from rights groups to soften its stance.
Abd Helmi Ab Halim was sentenced to death in 2017 for transporting 16.56 grammes (0.58 ounces) of heroin from Malaysia to neighbouring Singapore, according to court documents.
The execution was “extremely disproportionate”, said N. Surendran of Lawyers for Liberty, a Malaysian human rights NGO, which had appealed for clemency for the trafficker.
Hong Kong restaurateur Alex Yeung sent home from Singapore
“He was a low-level drug mule, the amount that he was alleged to have transported was paltry,” he said, adding it was just above the 15-gramme threshold for a mandatory death penalty for trafficking.
Malaysia also has capital punishment but a reformist government which swept to power last year has said it will soften its policies, likely by abolishing the mandatory death penalty for some crimes, and executions are currently on hold.
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Earlier this week, Malaysian Law Minister Liew Vui Keong called for Singapore to reconsider the hanging, saying it was “heart-wrenching to see a fellow citizen (is) to be executed, for circumstances entirely uncompelling.”
“Justice must be tempered with mercy, and I implore Singapore to do so,” he had said.
Following the hanging, Singapore insisted it had the right to use capital punishment against drug offenders and expected other countries to respect its laws, the city state’s Straits Times newspaper reported.
“Singapore’s laws apply equally to all, regardless whether the offender is Singaporean or foreign,” the law and interior ministries said in a joint statement.
Amnesty International recorded 13 executions last year in Singapore, 11 of them for drug-related offences.


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Singapore executes Malaysian drug trafficker despite appeals

A drug trafficker was sentenced to death in 2017 for transporting heroin from Malaysia to Singapore. Photo: Shutterstock

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Yeung is known for his pro-establishment and pro-China views, which have made him deeply unpopular within Hong Kong’s pro-democracy camp. Photo: YouTube

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Customs officials display seized drugs in Sepang. Malaysia's government has announced plans to remove criminal penalties for the possession and use of drugs in small quantities. Photo: AP

Malaysian Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad speaks during a press conference in Putrajaya, on Friday, June 28, 2019. Malaysia's government has announced plans to remove criminal penalties for the possession and use of drugs in small quantity to battle addiction, but stressed the move is not akin to legalizing drugs. (AP Photo)

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Malaysian police chief Abdul Hamid Bador. Photo: Facebook

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News

Asia

Southeast Asia


Abd Helmi Ab Halim was sentenced to death in 2017 for transporting heroin from Malaysia to the city state
Singapore insisted it had the right to use capital punishment against drug offenders after Malaysian law minister urged it to reconsider the hanging



Abd Helmi Ab Halim was sentenced to death in 2017 for transporting heroin from Malaysia to the city state.


Malaysia

Drugs

Crime

Singapore executes Malaysian drug trafficker despite appeals

Abd Helmi Ab Halim was sentenced to death in 2017 for transporting heroin from Malaysia to the city state Singapore insisted it had the right to use capital punishment against drug offenders after Malaysian law minister urged it to reconsider the hanging

Abd Helmi Ab Halim was sentenced to death in 2017 for transporting heroin from Malaysia to the city state

Singapore insisted it had the right to use capital punishment against drug offenders after Malaysian law minister urged it to reconsider the hanging