Execution of a Convicted Drug Importer - 16 April 2026

1.               The capital sentence imposed on a 46-year-old Singaporean, Omar bin Yacob Bamadhaj (“Omar”), was carried out on 16 April 2026. 

2.               On 24 February 2021, Omar was convicted of importing into Singapore, not less than 1,009.1 grammes of cannabis. Under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1973 (“MDA”), the offence of importation of more than 500 grammes of cannabis is punishable with the death penalty. 1,009.1 grammes of cannabis is sufficient to feed the addiction of about 144 abusers for a week. Omar’s conviction and sentence were upheld by the Court of Appeal (“CA”) on 12 October 2021.

3.               Omar was accorded full due process under the law, and was represented by legal counsel during his trial and appeal.

4.               CNB is aware that several allegations have been made in relation to Omar’s case. We would like to clarify the facts.

5.               On 12 July 2018, Omar entered Singapore from Malaysia via Woodlands Checkpoint by car. Upon arrival at the Checkpoint, an auxiliary police officer (“APO”) conducted a routine check on the car and found a bag which belonged to Omar (“the Bag”). The Bag contained three bundles wrapped in aluminium foil, cling wrap and newspaper (“the Bundles”). The Bundles were sent to the Health Sciences Authority (“HSA”) for analysis, and were found to contain not less than 1,009.1 grammes of cannabis.

6.               At trial, Omar’s defence was that he did not know the nature of the Bundles found in the car. Omar also alleged that an officer had threatened to slap him if he did not admit to ownership of the Bundles, and another officer had threatened to throw a pen at him and to hang both Omar and his father, if Omar refused to cooperate.

7.               The High Court found that there were several material inconsistencies in Omar’s testimony and that his accounts were not reliable. In contrast, several officers who were present at the time of recording Omar’s statements, gave mutually corroborative accounts. Their accounts were also supported by CCTV footage.

8.               After hearing the evidence adduced by the Prosecution and the Defence, the High Court came to the view that Omar knew the nature of the Bundles, and that he had intentionally brought them into Singapore. Accordingly, the High Court convicted Omar of the importation charge under s 7 of the MDA. 

9.               Omar appealed against his conviction and sentence. On appeal, the CA was satisfied that the High Court had examined the evidence carefully and saw no basis to interfere with the High Court’s decision. 

10.           Following the dismissal of his appeal, Omar was involved in four post-appeal applications. All of these applications were dismissed or resolved.

11.           After Omar was notified that his execution was scheduled to take place on 16 April 2026, he filed a legal application under s 394H of the Criminal Procedure Code 2010 to commence a review application against the CA’s decision in his appeal against his conviction and sentence (“the Application”). Omar raised the same allegation, that an officer had threatened to slap him.

12.           In dealing with the Application, the CA stated that Omar’s allegation had been fully canvassed and examined at both his trial and appeal. As Omar had not furnished any new or sufficient material, it found that there was no basis to grant the Application and summarily dismissed the Application on 15 April 2024.

13.           Omar’s petitions to the President for clemency were unsuccessful. 

14.           Capital punishment is imposed only for the most serious crimes, such as the importation or trafficking of significant quantities of drugs which cause very serious harm, not just to individual drug abusers, but also to their families and the wider society.

Central Narcotics Bureau
16 April 2026