In a shocking and controversial incident, Singapore carried out the execution of a woman caught with narcotics in 2018.
The woman, Saridewi Binte Djamani, aged 45, was sentenced to death by hanging, marking the first time the city-state has imposed the death penalty on a woman since 2004.
The execution was based on Saridewi's conviction for possessing 30.72 grams (approximately 1.08 ounces) of pure heroin, also known as diamorphine.
According to the Misuse of Drugs Act in Singapore, anyone found with more than 15 grams of heroin faces the death penalty.
Saridewi was arrested during a bureau operation at her HDB flat in Singapore on June 17, 2016.
During her trial in September 2018, she admitted to selling drugs from her apartment and cited her struggles with persistent depressive disorder and severe substance use disorder.
Despite appeals from various human rights activist groups, including the Global Commission on Drug Policy, the International Federation for Human Rights, and Amnesty International, the Singaporean government proceeded with the execution.
Activists argue that the death penalty disproportionately affects vulnerable and marginalized individuals in society, some of whom are unable to access proper legal representation.
The recent execution has raised concerns about the use of capital punishment in Singapore and its alignment with international human rights laws.
Michel Kazatchkine, a member of the Global Commission on Drug Policy, expressed distress and shock over the incident, calling it a violation of human rights principles.
Notably, Saridewi's case is not an isolated incident, as Singapore has recently carried out other executions related to drug offenses.
This raises further questions and discussions surrounding the use of the death penalty in the country.
The execution of Saridewi Binte Djamani has ignited a broader debate on the use of capital punishment, especially for drug-related crimes, in Singapore.
As discussions continue, activists and human rights organizations are striving to advocate for fair and just legal practices in the city-state.
Meanwhile in another news, an autopsy report has confirmed that a lady who was allegedly beaten to death in a club, actually drowned and was not beaten to death. See details here
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