Calls to spare Nagaenthran’s life

PETALING JAYA: Two British personalities have called for the life of Malaysian death row inmate Nagaenthran K. Dharmalingam to be spared.

British billionaire Richard Branson and actor Stephen Fry, in a video on Twitter, directed their message to Singaporean leaders, President Halimah Yacob and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

“Only a presidential pardon can stop the execution, and I am joining many around the world to ask you to use your powers to grant Nagaenthran clemency,” said Branson in the clip uploaded on Twitter on Friday.

In the same video, Fry said Nagenthran does not deserve to die.

“Nagaenthran has been living with an intellectual disability as defined under international human rights law.

“His mental state has worsened during his imprisonment,” said the comedian, who was part of comic double act Fry and Laurie, alongside fellow British actor Hugh Laurie.

Nagaenthran, from Perak, is scheduled to be hanged on April 27 after the Singapore Court of Appeal upheld the execution.

Show mercy: Sympathisers appealing for Nagaenthran’s pardon in front of the Singapore High Commission. — LOW LAY PHON/The Star

The 34-year-old was handed the death penalty by the Singapore High Court in 2010 for smuggling 42.72g of diamorphine.

Branson, the founder of Virgin Group, said Singapore has always led from the front when it comes to the rights of people with disabilities and championing their inclusion in society.

Adding to this, Fry said Nagaenthran’s execution would cast a dark shadow on many of those commitments.

“That’s a great risk to your country’s reputation in the world, including its reputation in the world of business,” he added.

The video ended with both British public figures asking the Singaporean leaders to grant Nagaenthran clemency, as his life rests in their hands.

Meanwhile local activists and leaders, who gathered outside the Singapore High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, yesterday also called for Nagaenthran to be pardoned.

MIC Information chief R. Thinalan said they submitted a memorandum calling for his pardon because he is a person with intellectual disability.

Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) chief coordinator Zaid Malek said they came to show their displeasure with the Singapore government for going ahead with his execution despite Nagaenthran’s disability.

On the memorandum to the Home Ministry submitted on Friday by LFL and other NGOs urging for Nagaenthran to be brought back to Malaysia through an international prisoner transfer programme, he said the government has to take swift action before his execution.

“The government must do what they can now because time is short. His life will end if we do nothing,” he said.

Also present was the Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network (Adpan).