Drug trafficker on Singapore death row granted clemency Although the capital sentence was "legally sound", the Cabinet recommended granting clemency

[fortunecat]

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/sin...56?cid=internal_sharetool_iphone_15082025_cna



SINGAPORE: A convicted drug trafficker was spared the death penalty and given life imprisonment on Thursday (Aug 14) after he was granted a pardon by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam.

Tristan Tan Yi Rui, 33, was sentenced to death in 2023 after he was found guilty of possessing not less than 337.6g of methamphetamine for trafficking. His conviction and capital sentence were upheld by the Court of Appeal.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said on Friday that President Tharman had granted the pardon on the advice of the Cabinet.

In 1998, the late President Ong Teng Cheong commuted the death sentence of convicted murderer Mathavakannan Kalimuthu to life imprisonment. He was eventually released in 2012 after spending about 16 years in prison.

In 2018, in a case of clemency not involving a death row inmate, then President Halimah Yacob granted clemency to a man who was a teenager when he murdered the wife of Anthony Ler, who had himself plotted the crime. Ler was sentenced to death.

His accomplice was spared the gallows because of his age and was eventually released after being detained under what is known as the President’s pleasure for 17 years.

Justice Abdullah noted that while the prosecution did not show that Tan intended to traffic the drugs, the defence also failed to rebut the presumption of possession for the purpose of trafficking.

“The defence essentially relied on the argument that the accused had not intended to possess the drugs in the first place and had not known that the bundle contained methamphetamine, even if Hakam had indeed passed the bundle to him,” he said.

But as evidence showed that Tan had negotiated for the purchase of the drugs from Hari and had intended to and had in fact taken possession of the drugs at the Lok Yang area, it meant that the defence’s argument could not stand.

“The result was that the presumption applied, and thus the element of possession for the purpose of trafficking was made out,” Justice Abdullah said.

He found Tan’s role went beyond that of a courier, noting he had negotiated the purchase and handover of the drugs.

As Tan was not eligible for the alternative sentencing regime, which allows certain death-eligible drug offenders to be sentenced to life imprisonment and caning instead of the mandatory death penalty, and the amount of methamphetamine exceeded 250g, Justice Abdullah sentenced Tan to death.

Sg not escaping the stereotype

Ong Teng Cheong that one most lucky sia. Not only no need to die, still can release after 16 yrs

 

[Linguist]

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/sin...56?cid=internal_sharetool_iphone_15082025_cna



SINGAPORE: A convicted drug trafficker was spared the death penalty and given life imprisonment on Thursday (Aug 14) after he was granted a pardon by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam.

Tristan Tan Yi Rui, 33, was sentenced to death in 2023 after he was found guilty of possessing not less than 337.6g of methamphetamine for trafficking. His conviction and capital sentence were upheld by the Court of Appeal.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said on Friday that President Tharman had granted the pardon on the advice of the Cabinet.

In 1998, the late President Ong Teng Cheong commuted the death sentence of convicted murderer Mathavakannan Kalimuthu to life imprisonment. He was eventually released in 2012 after spending about 16 years in prison.

In 2018, in a case of clemency not involving a death row inmate, then President Halimah Yacob granted clemency to a man who was a teenager when he murdered the wife of Anthony Ler, who had himself plotted the crime. Ler was sentenced to death.

His accomplice was spared the gallows because of his age and was eventually released after being detained under what is known as the President’s pleasure for 17 years.

Justice Abdullah noted that while the prosecution did not show that Tan intended to traffic the drugs, the defence also failed to rebut the presumption of possession for the purpose of trafficking.

“The defence essentially relied on the argument that the accused had not intended to possess the drugs in the first place and had not known that the bundle contained methamphetamine, even if Hakam had indeed passed the bundle to him,” he said.

But as evidence showed that Tan had negotiated for the purchase of the drugs from Hari and had intended to and had in fact taken possession of the drugs at the Lok Yang area, it meant that the defence’s argument could not stand.

“The result was that the presumption applied, and thus the element of possession for the purpose of trafficking was made out,” Justice Abdullah said.

He found Tan’s role went beyond that of a courier, noting he had negotiated the purchase and handover of the drugs.

As Tan was not eligible for the alternative sentencing regime, which allows certain death-eligible drug offenders to be sentenced to life imprisonment and caning instead of the mandatory death penalty, and the amount of methamphetamine exceeded 250g, Justice Abdullah sentenced Tan to death.

Sg not escaping the stereotype

yay! light punishment for vaping, no death penalty for drug smugglers! singapore is becoming the next land of the free! celebration!

another new low for sg

MHA did not identify the individual who received the non-capital sentence.

"Clemency is an exceptional power that is exercised as an act of executive grace," MHA said, according to ST.

What did I just read?
Somebody so "special" enough to escape death sentencing for drugs?

please abolish death penalty

all lives are equal to god

be merciful to drug dealers

Don't u realise by now how the severe punishment of death sentencing had kept the crime rate low?

Looks at other countries or the vape cases with no such sever punishment...

wtf. Still need to feed him for the rest of his life? Who pay for this, Tharman?

A part time president, the worse we ever had since 60 years

Already earned millions thanks to the 65%.
Work for 1 term then can 'retired' liao.

 

[Ghostpel]

The court should convert the sentencing of the other guy from life imprisonment to death. Hang both guys to resolve the disparity issue. One more life lost is not too many.

 

[Ghostpel]

After GE25, many things seem to going in the wrong direction. I’m very worried. Is LW going in the (leftist) populist direction?

 

[oOsiMm]

went thru so much why did cabinet grant clemency?

wonder what will happen to the 5 women arrested recently, clemency again?

maybe all the effort is to divert attention from OBS case, and tell citizens and thr world is the SG government is taking clemency approach and giving light sentence for ppl to rehabiltate from their err...

all for show, politics....

 

[rrr2015]

maybe all the effort is to divert attention from OBS case, and tell citizens and thr world is the SG government is taking clemency approach and giving light sentence for ppl to rehabiltate from their err...

all for show, politics....

SG has realli fallen

 

[blu3bird]

although death sentence is kinda cruel, but this is not the right time to announce big big this kind of things leh, when druggies r everywhere..

 

[Kunkka]

MHA did not identify the individual who received the non-capital sentence.

"Clemency is an exceptional power that is exercised as an act of executive grace," MHA said, according to ST.

What did I just read?
Somebody so "special" enough to escape death sentencing for drugs?

Don't u realise by now how the severe punishment of death sentencing had kept the crime rate low?

Looks at other countries or the vape cases with no such sever punishment...


Already earned millions thanks to the 65%.
Work for 1 term then can 'retired' liao.

Yes very special. After rejecting clemency for more than 20 the pas few years

 

[byfun]

"Justice Abdullah noted that while the prosecution did not show that Tan intended to traffic the drugs, the defence also failed to rebut the presumption of possession for the purpose of trafficking."

So presumption also apply in laws ah ?

But the defence team beh gan la... prosecution did not show he intend to traffic drugs liao defence didnt work on this important point ?

I wonder how the prosecution decide to charge him for drug trafficking instead of drugs possession when they cannot proof he intend to traffic drugs ? So just whack the most heavy sentence and hope for the best outcome ?

How come OBS case, the prosecution dont whack him with the heavier sentence of corruption instead charge him with obstruction of justice ? Seem like not their regular ways of operation leh....