About 100 people attend Nagaenthran's wake in Singapore

People pay tribute at a wake for Malaysian national Nagaenthran K. Dharmalingam, who was executed for trafficking heroin into Singapore, on April 27, 2022. - Photo: AFP

SINGAPORE: About 100 people including human rights activists, family members, and members of the public attended the wake held for Nagaenthran K. Dharmalingam, who was executed early Wednesday (April 27) morning in Singapore’s Changi Prison.

The wake, held at 38, Sin Ming Drive here, began at 1pm and the cortege at 4.50pm departed for Ipoh, Perak, where Nagaenthran’s funeral is to be held.

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A solemn atmosphere prevailed throughout the wake. There was a slight drizzle but it failed to disperse the crowd.

They even escorted the coffin which was lifted by 10 men for a distance of 50m before it was placed in a hearse to be taken back to Malaysia.

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Most attendees did not want to be interviewed and simply stated they have been following this high-profile case closely and wanted to pay their last respects.

One of the attendees at the wake who wished to remain anonymous said he was there to pay his last respects to Nagaenthran.

ALSO READ: Nagaenthran got to wear his favourite outfit before his death, says activist

“Law is law. We have to abide where ever we are. I’m here as a human being to pay my last respect to another human being,” said the man who came with his Filipino friend.

On Tuesday (April 26), the Singapore Court of Appeal dismissed a last ditch legal challenge filed by Nagaenthran’s mother to set aside her son's conviction and death sentence.

ALSO READ: Last-ditch bid to save Nagaenthran from gallows fails

Panchalai Supermaniam filed the legal challenge for her son with the help of friends and activists and was not represented by any lawyer.

This last-minute application was the seventh application, not including appeals, brought by Nagaenthran after his appeal against conviction was dismissed by the Court of Appeal in 2011.

Hailing from Perak, Nagaenthran was sentenced to death in 2010 for trafficking 42.72g heroin in 2009 into Singapore.

Nagaenthran’s lawyers claim that he is intellectually disabled.

He was supposed to be hanged on Nov 10, 2021, but 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 death sentence.

Nagaenthran’s fate drew international outcry on Singapore’s tough narcotics laws. - Bernama