Malaysian in death row has been accorded full due process under the law - Lee, Vivian

SINGAPORE: Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan have replied to their Malaysian counterparts to convey that the Malaysian awaiting execution for a drug offence in the republic has been accorded full due process under the law.

This is according to a statement issued by the republic's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in response to media queries on the appeal letters from Malaysian leaders on the judicial execution of Nagaenthran K Dharmalingam, a 33-year old Malaysian from Perak.

Both Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah had earlier written to their Singapore counterparts, requesting for the discretion of the authorities in Singapore to grant Presidential Clemency to Nagaenthran.

Saifuddin was reported saying: "In this case, I have to repeat, we can apply, through our means, (by) sending a letter, but we cannot interfere in terms of the affairs and legal processes in Singapore," he told reporters adding that Malaysia respects Singapore's legal process.

Nagaenthran was arrested by Singaporean authorities on April 22, 2009, for smuggling 42.72 grammes of diamorphine and was sentenced to death by the High Court of Singapore on Nov 22, 2010.

The appeal process through the court has already been made by Nagaenthran's family lawyer up to the final stage, which is the Presidential Clemency that was rejected on June 1, 2020.

Nagaenthran, who has been in the death row for 11 years and scheduled to be hanged on Nov 10, 2021, however, found temporary respite on Nov 9 after the court was told he had tested positive for COVID-19 when he appeared for a last-bid attempt against his sentence.

Following the dramatic turn of events, Nagaenthran was granted a further stay of execution by the Court of Appeal.

-- BERNAMA