In Singapore, a man will be hanged for 1 kg of marijuana as a plea for clemency

In 2017, Thangaraju was convicted of «incitement by conspiracy to traffic». 1017.9 grams (35.9 oz) marijuana. Photo: TRANSFORMATIVE JUSTICE COLLECTIVE

The family of a Singaporean who is to be hanged next week for a kilogram of marijuana appealed to the authorities on Sunday for clemency and demanded a retrial.

< p>Thangaraju Suppia, 46, was sentenced to death in 2018 for conspiracy to smuggle drugs, and the Court of Appeal upheld his sentence, due for execution on Wednesday.

“We don’t think that my brother’s trial was fair… I trust that the president will read all our petitions,” his sister Leelawati Suppia told reporters in Tamil at a press conference.

“From a young age , he was kind and loved by everyone, and he never did anything wrong to anyone … he sacrificed everything to help his family, ”she added, bursting into tears.

This will be Singapore. first performance in six months.

In 2017, Thangaraju was convicted of «inciting by conspiracy to traffic» 1,017.9 grams (35.9 ounces) of cannabis, twice the minimum amount that merits a death sentence under the city-state's harsh laws on drugs.

In many parts of the world, including neighboring Thailand, cannabis use has been decriminalized, and human rights groups are increasing pressure on Singapore to abolish the death penalty.

The Asian financial center has some of the toughest drug enforcement in the world. laws and insists that the death penalty remains an effective deterrent to human trafficking.

Lilavati Suppiya poses with family members, holding in the hands of a letter with a petition for pardon for his brother. p>Family members, relatives and friends signed the appeals at a press conference, and activists said they would deliver the appeals to the president's office.

Human rights activists and family members say there were loopholes in the case and that Thangaraju never dealt with drugs. They also allege that he was questioned by the police without a lawyer and that he was denied a Tamil interpreter during the recording of his first police statement. counsel throughout the process» and that the judge considered this «disingenuous», given Tangaraju's admission that he did not request an interpreter for any other statements.

Singapore resumed hanging in March 2022 after a hiatus of over two years.

Eleven executions were carried out last year, all for drug-related offences.

Among those hanged was Nagaentran K. Dharmalingam, whose execution sparked worldwide outcry, including from the United Nations and British tycoon Richard Branson because he was declared mentally handicapped.

Thangaraju's niece Subhashini Ilango, 26, said her uncle was courageous and said he was «ready» for Wednesday, but that his death would be unjust.

«But he believes that God will help him.»