Singapore has executed a man, Tangaraju Suppiah, who was convicted of trafficking 1 kilogram of cannabis, despite pleas for clemency from his family and activists

Singapore has executed a man who was convicted of trafficking 1 kilogram of cannabis, despite pleas for clemency from his family and activists.

Tangaraju Suppiah was hanged at the Changi prison complex at dawn today.

Tangaraju’s family and activists had sent letters to Singapore’s President Halimah Yacob urging for clemency in recent days, while British billionaire Sir Richard Branson also called for a review of the case.

Branson argued that Tangaraju was “not anywhere near” the drugs at the time of his arrest and that an innocent man may be put to death.

On Tuesday, Singapore’s courts also rejected a last-minute appeal from Tangaraju’s family against his conviction.

Tangaraju had been on death row since 2018. His family only received one week’s notice before his execution.

His execution is also the first in the country this year.

Singapore is expected to execute a 46-year-old man for conspiring to smuggle 1 kilogram of marijuana into the city state.

The family of Singaporean Tangaraju Suppiah was informed that he will be executed on Wednesday (April 26).

Amnesty International has condemned the decision, saying that Tangaraju’s conviction relies on statements from his police interrogation, which were taken without a lawyer present.

It also relied on the testimony of his two co-accused, one of which had his charges dismissed.

The government of Singapore must halt his execution, and commute his sentence and establish an official moratorium on all executions as a first step towards full abolition of the death penalty,” Amnesty International said.

If carried out, this will be Singapore’s first execution in six months. In 2022, Singapore executed 11 people, all for drug offences.

Among those executed last year included Malaysian Nagaenthran K. Dharmalingam.