KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian K. Datchinamurthy has been executed in Singapore, despite bids to stop the capital sentence.
The Singapore Central Narcotics Bureau in a statement on Thursday (Sept 25) said the execution of the convicted drug trafficker had been carried out on Thursday.
"The capital sentence of death imposed on Datchinamurthy was carried out on Sept 25.
"Datchinamurthy, a 39-year-old Malaysian, was convicted of having in his possession for the purpose of trafficking, not less than 44.96g of diamorphine, or pure heroin.
"The Misuse of Drugs Act provides for the death penalty if the amount of diamorphine trafficked is more than 15g.
"The amount of 44.96g of diamorphine is sufficient to feed the addiction of about 540 abusers for a week," the statement on its website read.
It further said that Datchinamurthy was accorded full due process under the law and was represented by legal counsel during trial and appeal.
"Datchinamurthy was convicted and sentenced to capital punishment on April 15, 2015.
'He appealed against his conviction and sentence, and the Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal on February 5, 2016.
"Datchinamurthy’s petitions to the President for clemency were unsuccessful.
"Capital punishment is imposed only for the most serious crimes, such as the trafficking of significant quantities of drugs which cause serious harm, not just to individual drug abusers but to their families and the wider society," it said.
This announcement comes after Datchinamurthy's execution was first halted on Thursday morning (Sept 25) before being scheduled a few hours later at 3pm.
It was reported that Lawyer N. Surendran who represents Datchinamurthy's family told a news daily that it would take place in the afternoon.
"All I heard is that it (execution) is happening this afternoon.
"Suddenly, we received the information, it is shocking and extremely cruel," Surendran said.
