Another hanging scheduled as lawyers work to save duo in Singapore

Authorities in Singapore have scheduled the execution of another inmate on the back of ongoing efforts to save two others from the gallows amid continued criticism of the city-state’s use of the death penalty.

A copy of a letter from the Singapore Prison Service shared by activist Kirsten Han said that Rosman Abdullah would be hanged on Feb 23.

The letter, addressed to Rosman’s mother, said extended visits would be allowed until the day before his execution.

This comes as lawyers work to halt the executions of Malaysian Pausi Jefridin and Singaporean Roslan Bakar, both diagnosed by experts as having low mental capabilities.

Pausi and Roslan, who were charged with trafficking 96.07g of diamorphine and 76.37g of methamphetamine in 2008, were convicted in 2010.

They failed in an appeal in 2017 to commute their death sentence to life imprisonment, despite lawyers citing medical reports on their intellectual capabilities which would render their execution illegal under Singapore laws as well as international treaties.

Their executions, scheduled for yesterday, were postponed as lawyers rushed in a last-minute bid to save them from the gallows.

Their case is similar to that of Nagaenthran K Dharmalingam, a Malaysian diagnosed with an IQ of 69 who was to have been executed in November last year.

He was granted a stay of execution after a diagnosis of Covid-19 just before the court was due to hear a last-ditch appeal to save his life.

His hearing is believed to have been set for this month.