Vidushi Nautiyal, Pune
Singapore executed a 45-year-old woman on Friday for drug trafficking for the first time in 20 years. According to the statement released by the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB), Saridewi Djamani was hanged to death in Changi Prison for attempting to traffic about an ounce of heroin – approximately 31 grams. As per the local media, Saridewi testified in court that she had been storing heroin for her own use during Ramadan.
The Singaporean national was sentenced on July 6, 2018, and her execution took place just two days after another convict, 56-year-old Mohammed Aziz Hussain was hanged on Wednesday for trafficking 50 grams of heroin back in 2017.
According to a local human rights group, the Transformative Justice Collective, she was the first woman to be on death row by the city-state since the 36-year-old hairstylist Yen May Woen in 2004. Yen was also found guilty of trafficking drugs.
According to the bureau, Saridewi “was accorded full due process under the law, and was represented by legal counsel throughout the process,” but Saridewi had contended that she was unable to provide reliable statements to the police at the time because she was suffering through drug withdrawals.
“She appealed against her conviction and sentence, and the Court of Appeal dismissed her appeal on 6 October 2022,” the bureau said. Her plea for presidential clemency was also denied.
Singapore has some of the strictest anti-drug regulations in the world, which it claims are vital for preserving society. Under Singaporean laws, anyone found trafficking over 500 grams of cannabis or 15 grams of heroin will be subjected to the death penalty.
Amnesty International, The International Federation for Human Rights, and the Global Commission on Drug Policy had urged the Singaporean government against the execution. However, they believe that the death sentence deters illicit drug activity, and keeps Singapore safe. The Singaporean government also said that the public widely supports this and that its judicial processes are impartial.
The Transformative Justice Collective also confirmed on Friday that another drug convict on death row has been scheduled for execution on August 3.