Richard Branson, a British business magnate, urged Singapore on Monday to put a stop to the man’s impending execution because it “may be about to kill an innocent man” for possessing more than one kilogram of cannabis.
The Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) of Singapore has announced that 46-year-old Tangaraju Suppiah will be hung on Wednesday.
“Tangaraju was actually not anywhere near these drugs at the time of his arrest. This was largely a circumstantial case that relied on inferences,” Branson, who is a member of the Geneva-based Global Commission on Drug Policy, wrote on his blog.
“Killing those at the lowest rungs of the illicit drug supply chain… is hardly effective in curbing an international trade worth hundreds of billions every year,” he said, adding he hoped authorities would review the case.
Cannabis has been decriminalized in many countries, including Singapore’s neighbor Thailand, and the death penalty has been under increasing pressure in Singapore from human rights organizations.
The financial capital of Asia has some of the strictest anti-drug legislation in the world and maintains that the death penalty is still a powerful deterrent against trafficking.
In 2017, Tangaraju was found guilty of “abetting by engaging in a conspiracy to traffic” 1,017.9 grams (35.9 ounces) of cannabis, more than double the legal limit that would have resulted in the death penalty under the strict drug laws of the city-state.
He received a death sentence in 2018, and the Court of Appeal upheld that decision.
On Sunday, the family of Tangaraju also requested a new trial and be granted mercy.
If carried out, it will be Singapore’s 12th execution since last year and its first in six months.
“Singapore is an otherwise wonderful country, so it’s very sad to see some of its policies harking back to colonialism, and even reminiscent of medieval times,” Branson said.
According to Branson and rights organizations, Tangaraju never touched the pills personally.
Two mobile phone numbers he possessed were allegedly used as contacts, according to the prosecution.
In March 2022, Singapore resumed executions after a break of more than two years.
The death of Nagaenthran K. Dharmalingam, who was believed to have a mental handicap, led to a worldwide uproar, including from the United Nations and Richard Branson. He was one of those who were hanged.
