Singapore hangs first woman in 19 years after she was convicted of trafficking 31 grams of heroin

Barbaric.

Focus on the consumers, not low level peddlers.

Barbaric to hang someone for 31 grams of heroin.

I have been to many countries in South East Asia including Singapore. It is well known the punishment for this type of crime. Obviously they were going for a big pay day and unfortunately they were not able to pull it off.

Barbaric to hang someone for 31 grams of heroin

Barbaric to hang someone.

For anything.

Like it or not, as long as the people of Singapore have no problem with the death penalty, nothing is going to change.

It's not like people dont know, and yet they still take risks, thinking perhaps they will be the one that gets away with it, but then they dont.

Basically a shot glass amount of heroin. Absolutely barbaric.

Incredible. I'm not in favor of hard drugs. 31 grams = death? Show some mercy, Singapore.

Although I believe you shouldn't lose your life for a small drug offense, it's a pretty damn good deterrent regardless of what this article states and I applaud Singapore for not wavering in the face of international pressure. Overly casual attitudes is what has led to so many addicts and problems in quite a few countries and societies.

Damn! Feel really bad for couriers who may be duped.

cleo

   Barbaric to hang someone for 31 grams of heroin

> Barbaric to hang someone.

> For anything.

Totally agree with that too.

it is barbaric to let drugs come in your country too and destroy lives, both mentally and pysically, of so many.

Think first of the total chain reaction and you will find out that it is unfortunately surely worth it in order to save maximum innocent persons.

I am against it for crimes not involving deaths personally but it should be based on science estimate, not feelings.

Dura lex sed lex.

She should have better worn a miniskirt in Afghanistan as a on-line challenge to earn money...

Obviously she didn't manufacture it. No excuse, but it doesn't sound Singapore really cares if they don't do something on that level.

Life is a precious gift. Drugs, weapons, and wars damage and destroy life. Long live humanity.

I disagree with the death penalty for drug offenses - but they all know the ultimate penalty.

Barbaric to hang someone.

For anything.

Tell that to the poor parents of murdered children. A (very small) percentage of criminals commit crimes so heinous, barbaric and sociopathic, that they forfeit their right to be expensively kept alive for decades.

"Singapore’s laws mandate the death penalty for anyone convicted of trafficking more than 500 grams (17.64 ounces) of cannabis and 15 grams (0.53 ounces) of heroin." Good job, Singapore. More countries need to follow your example.

 increasing evidence it is ineffective as a deterrent

I don't know where they get their "evidence." I only know that illicit fentanyl, for example, comes from the region of China around Hong Kong, from where the smugglers take the risk of shipping it and its ingredients all the way across the Pacific Ocean to Canada and the US.

Why not just sell it at home? Because they know they would be swinging from a rope if caught.

The laws of Singapore are well known and well publicized. If these idiots want to risk hanging for the profit they make that is their free choice. I hope it was worth it.

Well done Singapore, other countries should follow suit.

Dr.Cajetan CoelhoToday 04:49 pm JST

Life is a precious gift.

If life is a precious gift then why are you so eager for fallible governments to end lives irreversibly?

That’s exactly how to handle it. But still remains open why they are still so generous to have an allowed amount up to 15g heroin and 500g cannabis before death penalty. An absolute zero strategy would be easier to understand for everyone, the dealers and the death penalty opponents.

The death penalty is no deterrent, except perhaps for the most corrupt rich businessmen and powerful politicians who have made sure they are exempt from the draconian punishments reserved for the lower orders, which is why, in every society, such members of this ruling class rarely end up dangling from a rope. We can be sure that among the Singapore elite there are not a few deserving of the same punishment for much worse crimes than an ounce of a banned substance.

I think this is appalling, I’m against the death penalty you see. Wrongly convicted can be killed by the state, it happens often. Once a state has the power to kill its citizens it’s possible for them to mandate it for less serious crimes or alleged crimes to terrorise the public.

I have a lot of experience in Singapore. Nice to stay, always a joy to leave.

All those calling for the death penalty in their country for drug offenses would have to see most of their heroes hanged.

Bob

Good point made their my good fellow. People make comments without thinking too deeply about the subject you see, many view everything in a rather simplistic black and white, good vs evil mindset.

.

I don't understand why drugs are illegal.

If they were fully legal, I still wouldn't take them.

Just like non-smokers don't suddenly smoke because they see a pack in a shop.

Can't we just let people do what they want, rather than what we tell them to? When did we all become owned slaves?

I'd hate to be one of the ones to decide policy on such penalties.

Take the lenient approach and many will die of addiction

Take the present hardline approach and some will die from punishment that doesn't fit the crime or even innocently die.

How many grams of chewing gum would get me death penalty ?

Death penalty is not a deterrent? Really?

Saridewi Djamani has been deterred from committing any more drug or any other crimes.

Would you be so hasty to call for the death penalty if it was your son or daughter?

Death penalty is not a deterrent? Really?

Yeah, really.

Singapore still has a drug problem. It is worsening.

Singapore government’s official statistics confirm this trend.

Bob FosseToday 07:04 pm JST

I have a lot of experience in Singapore. Nice to stay, always a joy to leave.

> All those calling for the death penalty in their country for drug offenses would have to see most of their heroes hanged.

If my 'hero' knew the penalty and violated the law willingly then maybe that's a just dessert. For the record, I am against the death penalty for what seems like a very small amount but it's better than having pushers, addicts and needles all over your city, crackheads looking for handouts and people overdosing in record amounts. That just leads to more crime and violence. I lived through that in the States and I've been to Singapore and I loved their stricter rules. The rules aren't hard to follow. Clean city, no graffiti all over and garbage everywhere and no frickin nonsense.

Clean city, no graffiti all over and garbage everywhere and no frickin nonsense.

There is a significant drug problem in Singapore.

You are advocating a police state.

That is ‘frickin nonsense’

Human rights groups, international activists and the United Nations have urged Singapore to halt executions for drug offenses and say there is increasing evidence it is ineffective as a deterrent. 

Then by that logic, life imprisonment should be halted too -- because that, according to the same logic, wouldn't be a deterrent either.

Neither would 20 years in prison. Or 10 years. Or ... well, go down the line.

Why is the "not a deterrent" label only affixed to the death penalty? But it's never affixed to any other judicial punishment?

People who engage in serious drug dealing and drug trafficking are, to put it mildly, killers. They kill people. They engage in a "trade" that they KNOW will lead to the relatively quick destruction of human lives.

There's really very little difference between what they do, and blowing someone's head off with a gun. (At least the latter would be much quicker.)

And because a human being's life has the highest sanctity and value in this world, the punishment for deliberately and directly taking one's life should be commensurate with that life's sanctity and value.

Fully commensurate.

Death penalty is not a deterrent? Really?

Yeah, really.

Singapore still has a drug problem. It is worsening.

And what makes you think that the alternative punishment -- life imprisonment -- would somehow be more of a deterrent?

Crimes that warrant life imprisonment are also committed frequently. Thus, according to your logic, life imprisonment isn't a deterrent either -- and therefore should be abolished.

Same for 20 years, and 10 years, and 5 years, and ... well, pretty much every court sentence.

Think about it. If the death penalty is not a deterrent, then ... no judicial punishment is a deterrent.

And according to the rules you're basically laying down, a punishment not being a deterrent is grounds for abolishing that punishment.

Sorry not sorry, but the "not a deterrent" argument is simply nonsensical.

By that "logic," the cops should stop handing out speeding tickets -- because that's obviously not a deterrent either, given how many lead-foot drivers there are out there.

Mat:

I don't understand why drugs are illegal.

Here are reasons:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7vPhw1yQlU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nl0fDm7HSQ0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWBzxr3c29s

And what makes you think that the alternative punishment -- life imprisonment -- would somehow be more of a deterrent?

Feel free to quote me where I stated that.

After that have a little thinking time about what other options might be available besides the 2 you can see.

Then by that logic, life imprisonment should be halted too -- because that, according to the same logic, wouldn't be a deterrent either.

I think the point is not that the death penalty doesn’t provide a deterrent, it’s that it doesn’t provide any more deterrent than other available punishments such as life imprisonment. Think about it. If you are considering committing such a serious crime that you are either facing a punishment of decades imprisonment or the death penalty, then your main concern in either case is going to be not getting caught rather than splitting hairs between those two life ruining punishments.

Insanity no one should be forced to hang over drug and guess which pharmaceutical company invented heroine BAYER

njca4...

Would you be so hasty to call for the death penalty if it was your son or daughter?

If at the age of 45 they thought it was a good idea to risk their life by hanging by importing drugs into a country that is famous for hanging drug importers all for a few thousand dollars then yes.

These idiots KNOW what the penalty is. There is no secret, you get caught.... you drop on the rope.

Simple risk and reward..... She lost.

Damn, harsh punishment.

I like Singapore, but what if someone gets framed and executed? I'm sure it's happened, it's hard to prove you didn't know you were carrying heroin. That's my problem with the death penalty.

If these two people were truly guilty, I'm sure they must have regretted their decisions. But if they were innocent, and are about to die with no one ever knowing that they didn't know they had heroin... it's a nightmare to even consider.

I can't support the death penalty for this reason. Singapore and all countries should leave it behind.

Singapore is such a safe country because of their enforcement of the laws.

Live and play by the rules.

What about "legal" drugs, like opioids, manufactured by the pharma giants, that have killed a million Americans in the last 25 years? Or those who peddle highly addictive and lethal products like alcohol and tobacco, knowing that millions will sicken and die from addiction to their legal but poisonous wares? Any suits hanged or even imprisoned? That hapless woman's execution in Singapore for her illegal ounce clearly has not elicited even a gram of compassion or pity from those who would feel quite differently were the victim a family member or friend.

> Bob FosseJuly 28 10:02 pm JST

Clean city, no graffiti all over and garbage everywhere and no frickin nonsense.

> There is a significant drug problem in Singapore.

> You are advocating a police state.

> That is ‘frickin nonsense’

Yeah, sure. I'm willing to bet their 'drug problem' is nothing like the one in the States that causes rampant crime, homelessness, suicides and broken families. Maybe you prefer that?

MocheakeToday 01:07 am JST

Bob FosseJuly 28 10:02 pm JST

Clean city, no graffiti all over and garbage everywhere and no frickin nonsense.

There is a significant drug problem in Singapore.

You are advocating a police state.

That is ‘frickin nonsense’

Yeah, sure. I'm willing to bet their 'drug problem' is nothing like the one in the States that causes rampant crime, homelessness, suicides and broken families. Maybe you prefer that?

None of the things you mentioned ends people's lives, fyi (well suicide does but that is not relevant). And overdoses are at least partially the result of the victim's actions. Also this isn't fentynyl, this is heroin we are talking about, so it isn't fatal for the most part.

Imagine whining about another countries laws while ignoring the hundreds of thousands of OD deaths in your own. Asia in general but especially Singapore are proof that being tough on drug crime actually does work if you're serious about it.

Why is the ICC not interfering in Singapore's drug war?

Although I believe you shouldn't lose your life for a small drug offense, it's a pretty damn good deterrent 

Deterrent? Really? Lots of drug use in Singapore. Lots of demand. Death by hanging isn't slowing drug use there.

Not a fan of drugs, their dealers, or users but hanging is a thing of the past and a life sentence could have the same outcome.

Until Singapore reconsiders people should avoid traveling or touring that nation BCZ. you never know what trap is awaiting you.

Their country, their laws. Some people like living in a police state. Let them be.

IllyasToday 02:15 am JST

Imagine whining about another countries laws while ignoring the hundreds of thousands of OD deaths in your own. Asia in general but especially Singapore are proof that being tough on drug crime actually does work if you're serious about it.

I'll assume the reverse is also true and there won't be a peep about the US's ODs and gun homicides. You think the US is ridiculous and the opposite belief can also be held about you.

Singaporean citizens also serve jail time for spitting on the sidewalk. It’s a draconian society. Look out, big Brother is watching. In this sense Singapore is a lot like its brethren in China.

EastmanJuly 28  02:49 pm JST

good move.

Japan should do same.

no mercy to drug dealers

People always reveal their true natures. Hanging a lady by the neck until she be dead for just over an ounce of smack. Barbaric, unforgiving and intentional cruel. Singapore you are ok with this? This is your form of exceptionalism that you choose to showcase to the world?

Am under impressed. Beware who you pass judgement on.

Basically a shot glass amount of heroin. Absolutely barbaric.

30gms of heroin is enough for 370 addicts to feed their habit for a week.

Lots of drug use in Singapore. Lots of demand.

Please give proof of this statement

Different countries have different perspectives on crime. As an open minded traveler, it's your responsibility to know and abide by the laws of the country you are in. If you don't do your homework first, you are negligent. If you do, and you choose to break the law anyway, you are stupid. As a resident though?

A little story. In 1995 on Khao San Rd in Bangkok I got chatting to this young British guy who was about my age and could not have looked more conspicuous if he tried in terms of drug trafficking. Long dreadlocked hair, beads, tie dyed clothes - the whole shooting match. He was so cliched it was absurd. In the course of the conversation, in hushed tones, he started to tell me about how he was there to smuggle drugs with some friends from Thailand to Europe by ingesting them in condoms. He went into some detail about how he would do it, as I recall, and I don't think it was his first time. He was cavalier, carefree and incredibly, incredibly stupid. Death penalty at the time.

I'm no prude, I've had plenty of fun, but all I could think as I sat listening to this guy with complete incredulity was that he was one of the stupidest people I had ever met.

I don't know what happened to him, never saw him again, but one thing was certain. If he did get caught, he did so in full knowledge of the choices he was making and the consequences he faced - and could have no complaints.

I assume one gram would overdose a non user. So in theory that is potentially 31 deaths. A sport store owner sell 31 rounds for a AR 15 again potentially 31 deaths. I know if I had a choice of allowing one of the two I know which product I would allow over the other.

Singapore's drug laws are failing them. They are not reducing drug use/abuse there and are applied unevenly. The wealthy have more options to avoid serious jail time or execution. Read this and ponder it for a bit. I think it is telling that 67% of the inmates of Singapore prisons are in there for drug offenses where in the US the number is 19% and the UK it is 16% of the prison population.

https://www.singapore-samizdat.com/singapore-war-on-drugs-social-impact/

Here is an interesting explanation for Singapore's low crime rate, and it relates to the US.

https://furrybrowndog.wordpress.com/2012/05/10/what-explains-singapores-persistently-low-crime-rate/

> TaiwanIsNotChinaToday 01:18 am JST

MocheakeToday 01:07 am JST

> Bob FosseJuly 28 10:02 pm JST

> Clean city, no graffiti all over and garbage everywhere and no frickin nonsense.

> There is a significant drug problem in Singapore.

> You are advocating a police state.

> That is ‘frickin nonsense’

> Yeah, sure. I'm willing to bet their 'drug problem' is nothing like the one in the States that causes rampant crime, homelessness, suicides and broken families. Maybe you prefer that?

> None of the things you mentioned ends people's lives, fyi (well suicide does but that is not relevant). And overdoses are at least partially the result of the victim's actions. Also this isn't fentynyl, this is heroin we are talking about, so it isn't fatal for the most part.

All the things I mention can most definitely end people's lives. Homeless people can starve, freeze to death, die during a heat wave, get attacked by people who see them as an easy target (happens quite often), etc. They also can become a danger to those around them due to many being mentally unstable and a lot of that is directly tied to legal and illegal drug use. It's incredible to me to see someone defending the fact that people can OD! Attitudes like this are exactly the problem with the U.S.

Bit extreme for low levels of drugs.

@matt,

"I don't understand why drugs are illegal.

If they were fully legal, I still wouldn't take them.

Just like non-smokers don't suddenly smoke because they see a pack in a shop.

Can't we just let people do what they want, rather than what we tell them to? When did we all become owned slaves?"

I don't care if drugs kill drug users.

What matters to me that under the influence of drugs, strange things happen to the minds and these people can kill others if they were driving a car.

They may go insane in a house/street/apartment etc. and get a knife and could injure and kill others.

Other people's lives matter.

Singaporean law. Love it or hate it. Its there country and their laws.

Do you have the right to interfere?

"If you sling you swing." The end.

if every criminal was sentenced to death, taxpayers would not need to finance vast numbers of prisons and their populations. No recidivism, less crime.

DanielsanToday 02:38 am JST

if every criminal was sentenced to death, taxpayers would not need to finance vast numbers of prisons and their populations. No recidivism, less crime.

You'd have to keep them for the duration of their appeal and also deal with the social consequences of murdering people for petty theft.

MocheakeJuly 29 11:40 am JST

TaiwanIsNotChinaToday 01:18 am JST

MocheakeToday 01:07 am JST

Bob FosseJuly 28 10:02 pm JST

Clean city, no graffiti all over and garbage everywhere and no frickin nonsense.

There is a significant drug problem in Singapore.

You are advocating a police state.

That is ‘frickin nonsense’

Yeah, sure. I'm willing to bet their 'drug problem' is nothing like the one in the States that causes rampant crime, homelessness, suicides and broken families. Maybe you prefer that?

None of the things you mentioned ends people's lives, fyi (well suicide does but that is not relevant). And overdoses are at least partially the result of the victim's actions. Also this isn't fentynyl, this is heroin we are talking about, so it isn't fatal for the most part.

All the things I mention can most definitely end people's lives. Homeless people can starve, freeze to death, die during a heat wave, get attacked by people who see them as an easy target (happens quite often), etc. They also can become a danger to those around them due to many being mentally unstable and a lot of that is directly tied to legal and illegal drug use. It's incredible to me to see someone defending the fact that people can OD! Attitudes like this are exactly the problem with the U.S.

I'm touched by your concern for the homeless (which every country has btw), but the answer is not to have summary executions for drug offenders, least of all for those convicted of simple possession. While undoubtedly a lot of homeless are drug addicts, it's not all of them and you will still have the regular poor homeless bringing down your "perfect society". And yes, being able to end your life as you see fit is part of being a free society.

if every criminal was sentenced to death, taxpayers would not need to finance vast numbers of prisons and their populations. No recidivism, less crime.

Authoritarian fascist societies rule! Right brother?

...right brother?

Liberalism is a mental disorder. Look at the recent news from the UK: 1000 robberies from shops are committed in broad daylight EVERY DAY, and no one can do anything about it because the police aren't interested and the judges don't take it seriously either. Set the bar high, like Singapore, and watch how crime plummets.

Liberalism is a mental disorder

That’s a line our rightwing North American podcast watchers parrot.

I think it was written by some radio personality in the US. Not to be taken seriously by people past their angry teenage years.

 Set the bar high, like Singapore, and watch how crime plummets

But drug offenses are increasing in Singapore.

Punishment should fit the crime. This should be for every country. DP is a bit harsh for bringing in drugs but I’m 100% for DP for those that committed murder and rape. This will also cut down on the burden of overcrowded prisons.

Drug overdose death rates per 100K/yr 2021: Singapore: 1.8, US: 21, NewYork: 32

Arguably Singapore's policy is saving lives, not wasting them.

Personaly I don't agree low level mules deserve death penalty.

However, compared to so-called harm reduction centers where people go to freely shoot up, overdose, and get revived with Narcan, over and over again, while they waste away, Singapore is definitely more humane, in my opinion.

Their country, their law. I wonder how many times she did not get caught

u_s__reamerJuly 28 06:56 pm JST

The death penalty is no deterrent...

I am not so sure about this - compare some streets in the US full with drug junkies with some streets in Singapore...

You wouldn't want to be an unwitting mule there, would you? I wonder how many innocent people are hanged

I am deterred from doing anything with illegal drugs in Singapore because of the death penalty.

It works.

I am deterred from doing anything with illegal drugs in Singapore because of the death penalty.

It works.

So you support the death penalty? Hopefully no one ever plants drugs on you as you're going through Singapore. I wonder if you would still be supporting the death penalty as an innocently convicted man about to die...

So you support the death penalty? Hopefully no one ever plants drugs on you as you're going through Singapore.

Like this happens all the time LOL...