Despite international criticism, the execution of mentally disabled Nagaenthran K Dharmalingam has been set for 27 April.
The Tamil Malaysian has been on death row since 2010. Dharmalingam was convicted on charges of carrying a meagre 42.72 grams of heroin into Singapore, a country that has received widespread criticism over its harsh drug laws.
Last month, Singapore's top court dismissed a final appeal filed by Dharmalingam's lawyers.
"[Dharmalingam] has held on to a childlike love of life, and a yearning for the simpler parts of his childhood. He often talks to his family about favourite foods he wants to eat, lying in his mother's lap again," Kokila Annamalai from Transformative Justice Collective stated.
"The heart-breaking fact that he does not fully understand he faces execution further demonstrates that he lacks the mental competency to be executed," stated Reprieve.
Given only seven-days notice, Dharmalingam's sister Sarmila detailed her rush to secure travel documentation to visit her brother before the planned execution.
Nagaenthran Dharmalingam pictured with his nephew.
"He was very upset because with the borders opening up and in-person visits now a possibility, the prison was going to stop his phone calls to his family," stated Sarmila. "I don't know how I will get by without hearing your children's voices. I'll beg them for permission and call you one last time next Sunday," Dharmalingam told his sister.
"How can this be happening? How can the Singapore government be so unmoved by all our pleas?" Sarmila stated.
Dharmalingam's case has drawn global condemnation. Dharmalingam's lawyer M Ravi stated, "Singapore state will never be able to recover from the disgrace it's going to face internationally in hanging an intellectually disabled person."
"Instead of focusing on drug lords, Singapore uses the death penalty disproportionately against small time drug mules, many of whom are vulnerable people like Nagen from marginalised communities," stated Reprieve.
Read more about Dharmalingam's case here: Singapore's top court hears final appeal on planned execution of disabled Malaysian Tamil
