Singapore executes Malaysian national for drug trafficking

By Berk Kutay Gokmen

ISTANBUL (AA) - Singapore on Thursday executed Malaysian national Datchinamurthy Kataiah following his conviction for trafficking heroin into the country.

The execution took place at 3 pm (0700GMT), despite an earlier decision by the authorities to delay it. Datchinamurthy’s family made several petitions for clemency to Singapore’s president, all of which were rejected.

According to the Central Narcotics Bureau, the 39-year-old was found guilty of possessing at least 44.96 grams of diamorphine, or pure heroin, for trafficking purposes.

The seized amount was enough to feed the addiction of approximately 540 drug users for one week.

Datchinamurthy was sentenced to death by the High Court on April 15, 2015, and his appeal against the conviction and sentence was rejected by the Court of Appeal on Feb. 5, 2016.

Singapore is one of only a few countries, including China and North Korea, that impose the death penalty for drug offenses.

Anyone caught trafficking more than 500 grams of cannabis or 15 grams of heroin is sentenced to death.

The Southeast Asian country resumed executions in March 2022 after a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.