Singapore
Foreign Nationals and the Death Penalty
Death Penalty Overview
Singapore, like the United States, is one of
the world’s most developed countries to still
retain and use the death penalty and has
the highest per capita execution rate
globally. Singapore is also one of just four
countries who regularly execute people for
non-violent drug offences. Singapore
regularly refuses to accede to the UN
moratorium against the death penalty and
has even signed a statement against the
resolution, stating that state sovereignty in
these matters is of the utmost importance.
The death penalty can be imposed for
murder, terrorism and drug traf cking,
though it is drug traf cking where most
sentences are made. It was also available for
rape and mutiny until the Penal Code
(Amendment) Act of 2007.
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At least 44 individuals have been executed
since 2013, most of whom were were
foreign nationals, who were all executed for
drug traf cking. Executions are carried out
by hanging, the most recent of which was
on 26 April 2023, when Tangaraju Suppiah,
a 46-year-old Singaporean man was
executed for possession of 1kg of cannabis.
Year
Drug
Trafficking
Murder
Total
2016
2
2
4
2017
8
0
8
2018
11
2
13
2019
2
2
4
2020
0
0
0
2021
0
0
0
2022
11
0
11
Executions in Singapore
Public discourse around the death penalty
in Singapore is virtually non-existent, as it is
considered a taboo subject, although many
seem to believe that harsh punishments
serve as effective deterrents against crimes
such as murder and drug traf cking.
All eight executions in 2017 were for drugrelated offences, as were 11 of 13
executions in 2018. After a two-year