COMMENT | Hanging mentally disabled drug mule a new low for Singapore

COMMENT | Hanging an intellectually impaired man is a new low for Singapore’s judicial standards. I can’t believe it’s happening again.

This time around, not only are the Singapore Penitentiary system and judiciary executing someone, it’s also someone with a mental disability. What an awful piece of news to hear in this modern day and age.

Nagaenthran K Dharmalingam has been sentenced to hang in Changi Prison, Singapore on Nov 10, 2021. The time of execution was not confirmed in the notice sent to his family residing in Ipoh, Perak.

This is a traumatic shock to the family, especially during this festive season. I have spoken to Nagaenthran’s elder sister Sharmila earlier today; she did not have the strength to reveal the truth to her mother that her eldest son is about to be executed in Changi Prison, the following week after Deepavali. Imagine, they will have to live through Deepavali, wallowing in the sorrow of their son’s fate.

Also, my next concern here is the family’s financial condition. How will they manage the travel expenses to a country with a higher exchange rate (three times over) on such short notice? I can imagine how they feel now, as I have experienced the same situation before. This new shock will place extreme pressure and despair on Nagaenthran's family in the coming weeks.

Drug mules are not from wealthy families; they are from poor and vulnerable ones. Singapore, where is your heart? Where is your conscience? Do you realise that these events that have transpired, which are wholly under your control, lack a single shred of humanity? Not only have you broken a family into pieces but you are giving them harrowing memories for them to live on for the rest of their lives when the festive season comes every year.

Singapore's eagerness to kill

As we are all aware, the pandemic had turned many things upside down for everyone. This applies to the families of death row inmates as well. We are unable to visit our family members in Changi Prison for a long time now. Yet, before the border has opened, the execution of Nagaenthran has been scheduled.

How on earth is this fair? It is heartbreaking to learn that the family was only given one week’s notice to plan for visits and prepare other travel as well as funeral arrangements.

Nagaenthran’s family was made aware of multiple rules and regulations for state travel arrangements to enter Singapore. On top of that, they will have to quarantine themselves as well.

On top of that, while in Singapore, they will have to comply with visitation rules in Changi Prison, be tested negative for Covid-19, and lastly, comply with the rules on funeral arrangements.

Is it really necessary for the Singaporean judiciary and penitentiary system to set the execution into motion now with the current state of the world? Why aren’t they more focused on handling the spread of the pandemic? Why are they so eager to carry out the death sentence under these tough circumstances? It is apparent to see Singapore’s impatience in carrying out the task of killing lives without any humanity.

Hanging Nagaenthran and other offenders like him do not only hurt them but their families and loved ones too. The impact is devastating, destructive, and is an infringement of basic human rights.

Executing a mentally and intellectually-challenged person is prohibited under international human rights law and the Convention of Rights of Persons with Disability (CRPD).

Big fish unaffected

Nagaenthran has been on death row for 12 years now, since 2009. On behalf of Nagaenthran’s family, we need to ask if Singapore still wants to practise hanging humans to death, moreover a person with mental disability, in this modern era. Singapore is not only being backwards but is also lacking in forgiveness and compassion.

I wonder if Singapore has caught someone like Pablo Escobar or Dario Antonio Usuga David before? You know, the individuals at the top of drug cartels. These two men were caught by Columbian authorities. Singapore could not do this, yet punish those who were innocent and were manipulated into becoming drug mules.

When will Singapore start going after the drug lords to stop the cartels and stop hanging the poor drug mules who were victims of their circumstances? As a sister to a death row inmate, I humbly request the Singaporean authorities to stop Nagaenthran’s execution. It helps no one, does nothing to assist in eradicating drugs, and only leads to harm and damages.

If Singapore thinks that continuing with this execution helps maintain its brand as a strict, law-abiding nation, believe me, the effect was already lost when it decided to hang someone with an intellectual impairment.

I urge the public to come forward and say “No” to this injustice and to prevent the unlawful execution of Nagaenthran under the constitution and international human rights conventions. Let’s come together and end crime, not lives.

SANGKARI PRANTHAMAN is the sister of Pannir Selvam Pranthaman, a Malaysian citizen on death row in Singapore.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.

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