Nagaenthran’s appeal hearing around the corner as execution looms

Singapore authorities will hear in a matter of days the appeal of Malaysian Nagaenthran K Dharmalingam who is facing the death sentence in the city-state despite a stay granted late last year.

UK-based legal group Reprieve said Nagaenthran’s execution for a drug-related offence was only stayed pending his appeal.

“This means he is once again at risk of imminent execution, which could take place very quickly if his appeal is dismissed,” it said.

Nagaenthran’s appeal was set for Jan 24 after he was granted a stay of execution following a diagnosis of Covid-19 just before a last-ditch attempt to stop his sentence on Nov 9, 2021.

Nagaenthran was arrested in 2009 for carrying 43g of heroin into Singapore, which has some of the world’s toughest anti-drugs laws.

A diagnosis of his mental capability found among other that he has an IQ of 69 – below the threshold of 70 for declaring a person as intellectually disabled.

He was nonetheless sentenced to death the following year and was due to be hanged on Nov 10, 2021 after losing several appeals.

The sentence drew public outrage and sparked pleas for leniency from Malaysian leaders including Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah.