Singapore slams Richard Branson over death penalty criticism

Leelavathy Suppiah (centre), sister of a convicted drug trafficker Tangaraju Suppiah, who is scheduled for execution, poses with family members as she holds a petition letter to seek clemency in Singapore on April 23, 2023. The family of a Singaporean man due to be hanged next week over a kilogram of cannabis pleaded for clemency from the authorities April 23 and urged a retrial. - AFP

SINGAPORE, April 25, 2023 (AFP): The Singapore government criticised British billionaire Richard Branson on Tuesday for saying authorities "may be about to kill an innocent man" over one kilogram of cannabis.

Singaporean Tangaraju Suppiah, 46, is scheduled to be hanged on Wednesday after being convicted of conspiracy to traffic 1,017.9 grams (35.9 ounces) of cannabis, twice the minimum amount that merits the death sentence under the city-state's tough drug laws.