Three men set for execution in Singapore amid pending constitutional challenge

SINGAPORE: Execution notices have been issued to three men sentenced to death for drug offences, according to a Facebook post by independent journalist Kirsten Han. She said one execution is set for 26 November, with two more planned for 27 November. The Singapore government has confirmed that Malaysian national Saminathan Selvaraju, also known as Sami, will be executed on 27 November. This follows the executions of Malaysian nationals K Datchinamurthy in September and Pannir Selvam Pranthaman in October. Han said the three upcoming executions would bring the total number of executions this year to 17. She noted that this would mark the highest annual total in many years. Singapore’s civil society groups will hold a vigil at Hong Lim Park at 7pm on 26 November, inviting the public to show solidarity with the three men.

AADP condemns execution notices ahead of pending constitutional challenge

Sami was one of four prisoners who jointly appealed to President Tharman Shanmugaratnam for clemency in September 2025. The Alliance Against Death Penalty (AADP), a grassroots coalition advocating abolition, said the notices are “outrageous” as a constitutional challenge against the mandatory death penalty remains pending. According to AADP, the challenge was filed by four members of the Transformative Justice Collective and three sisters of executed prisoners. They filed the application only weeks ago, and a hearing is scheduled for 3 December 2025. The group criticised the decision to proceed with executions. It questioned why the state intends to carry out mandatory death sentences when the constitutionality of such penalties is before the courts. AADP said: “Every time the state attempts to kill, Singaporeans must make our opposition known.” The group added that they believe the mandatory death penalty is unconstitutional and will make that argument before the courts. They warned, however, that the hearing may come too late for the three prisoners. Sami worked as a driver for MKG Logistics, regularly transporting consignments from Malaysia to Singapore. He was convicted of trafficking not less than 301.6g of diamorphine, which he was found to have delivered to his co-accused, Zulkarnain. According to court findings, Central Narcotics Bureau officers observed a drug transaction on the night of 20 November 2013. Zulkarnain was arrested with the drugs, while the trailer involved was allowed to return to Malaysia. Sami was arrested about five months later, identified through immigration records. His defence was that he had driven the trailer earlier the same day but was not the driver when the drugs were brought into Singapore. He said a different person had used the trailer and that company practices meant he did not retain the vehicle after completing jobs. He also stated that he often left pre-filled immigration cards with his signature in the vehicle. He disputed that the handwriting indicating the delivery address on the card was his. Two handwriting experts gave differing views. One expert could not exclude Sami as the writer, while another initially said the handwriting was not his but later asked for that part of the report to be expunged. The trial judge rejected the defence, describing it as dependent on multiple coincidences. Prosecutors relied on both presumptions under section 18 of the Misuse of Drugs Act: that he possessed the drugs and that he knew their nature. Because his defence was based on not being the driver, he did not present evidence to rebut these presumptions. He was convicted and sentenced to the mandatory death penalty.

Human rights lawyer M Ravi remembers “gentle soul” Sami, urges compassion in justice

Sami was involved in several civil actions brought by death row prisoners. One notable case was the constitutional challenge filed in 2022 by Datchinamurthy Kataiah, Sami, Jumaat and Lingkes against the “double presumptions” used in capital cases. That challenge was dismissed on 28 August 2025. Datchinamurthy was executed on 25 September 2025. In a separate Facebook post, human rights lawyer Ravi reflected on his past representation of Sami. He described him as soft-spoken, gentle and considerate, noting that he carried his troubles lightly. Ravi wrote the post as a personal reflection, stating that he remembered Sami as “a gentle soul”. He said the death penalty reduces a person to their worst moment and erases the possibility of growth or change. Ravi called for compassion, writing that “justice without humanity is no justice at all”.