Execution of a Convicted Drug Trafficker - 12 February 2026

1.        The capital sentence of death imposed on Lingkesvaran Rajendaren (“Lingkesvaran”) was carried out on 11 February 2026.

2.        Lingkesvaran, a 33-year-old Malaysian, was convicted of trafficking in not less than 52.77 grammes of diamorphine, or pure heroin. 52.77 grammes of diamorphine is sufficient to feed the addiction of about 630 abusers for a week. The Misuse of Drugs Act 1973 provides for the death penalty if the amount of diamorphine trafficked is more than 15 grammes.

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

         a. Lingkesvaran was convicted and sentenced to death on 15 October 2018.

         b. He appealed against his conviction and sentence. The Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal on 27 March 2019.

4.         Following the dismissal of his appeal, Lingkesvaran was involved in eight post-appeal applications. All of these applications have been dismissed or resolved.

5.         Lingkesvaran’s petitions to the President for clemency were unsuccessful.

6.         After Lingkesvaran was notified that his execution is scheduled to take place on 11 February 2026, his instructed counsel filed a civil suit on 9 February 2026 alleging wrongful acts done and/or neglect and/or default committed by public officers within the Singapore Prison Service (“SPS”), purportedly in breach of the Prisons Act 1933 and the Prisons Regulations (the “Civil Suit”). As the Civil Suit is currently before the Court, we are unable to comment further. On 9 February 2026, Lingkesvaran’s instructed counsel also applied for a stay of execution of his sentence pending the Civil Suit but the Court of Appeal rejected the application for a stay of execution. As Lingkesvaran was not granted a stay of execution or an order of respite, and there were no relevant pending proceedings that would affect his conviction and sentence, the sentence of death was duly carried out on Lingkesvaran, in accordance with the law.

7.         Capital punishment is imposed only for the most serious crimes, such as the 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

12 February 2026