News
Execution of Convicted Drug Trafficker 2017
14 July 2017
A 29-year-old Malaysian national, Prabagaran a/l Srivijayan, had his death sentence carried out today at Changi Prison Complex.
On 12 April 2012, Prabagaran was arrested at Woodlands Checkpoint after 2 packets containing not less than 22.24 grams of diamorphine were recovered from the Malaysian-registered vehicle that he was driving. On 22 July 2014, Prabagaran was convicted of importing 22.24 grams of diamorphine (or pure heroin) into Singapore. He was sentenced to death by the High Court on 22 September 2014. The Misuse of Drugs Act provides for the death penalty if the amount of diamorphine imported is more than 15 grams. 22.24 grams of diamorphine is equivalent to about 1,853 straws, which is sufficient to feed the addiction of about 265 abusers for a week.[1]
His appeal against conviction and sentence was dismissed by the Court of Appeal on 2 October 2015.
On 8 January 2016, Prabagaran brought his case to the Court of Appeal for the second time by way of a criminal motion for the Court of Appeal to review its decisions on his appeal, on grounds that the Misuse of Drugs Act provisions under which he was sentenced to death were unconstitutional. On 2 December 2016, the criminal motion was dismissed by the Court of Appeal.
On 11 July 2017, Prabagaran’s case was brought before the Court of Appeal for the third time by way of criminal motions on grounds that Prabagaran has a pending appeal before the Malaysian Court of Appeal to institute proceedings against Singapore in the International Court of Justice. On 13 July 2017, the criminal motions were dismissed by the Court of Appeal.
Prabagaran submitted his petition for clemency. The petition was unsuccessful.
Prabagaran was accorded full due process under the law, and he was represented by legal counsel throughout the process.
Central Narcotics Bureau
14 July 2017
[1] This is estimated using a typical purity level of 4%, based on drug seizures in recent years. The number of straws made may vary according to the purity level of the heroin.