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SINGAPORE has carried out the execution of Malaysian national Datchinamurthy Kataiah, 39, for drug trafficking, despite an earlier decision to postpone the hanging which had given his family a brief glimmer of hope.
The Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) confirmed in a statement that Datchinamurthy was executed at 3pm on Thursday after being convicted of trafficking at least 44.96 grammes of diamorphine — a quantity which, under Singapore’s Misuse of Drugs Act, carries a mandatory death sentence.
Authorities said the amount was sufficient to sustain the addiction of approximately 540 users for one week.
“The capital sentence of death imposed on Datchinamurthy a/l Kataiah was carried out on 25 September 2025,” the CNB said.
Datchinamurthy, who had been on death row since 2015 following his conviction and sentencing by the High Court, had earlier managed to delay his execution through a legal challenge mounted in 2022.
However, his appeals were ultimately dismissed, including multiple petitions for presidential clemency.
In a shocking turn of events, his family had been informed on Thursday morning that the execution was temporarily halted. Hours later, they were told it would proceed as originally planned. His remains were to be collected at 3pm the same day.
“This is an act of cruelty unsurpassed in Singapore’s death penalty history,” said family lawyer N. Surendran. “To pretend to give a reprieve to Datchinamurthy, raise his hopes and his family’s hopes, and then plunge them into horror and despair again, is unforgivable.”
Datchinamurthy was arrested in 2011 and accused of smuggling heroin into Singapore, a country known for its uncompromising drug laws.
His case drew international attention, with the United Nations and the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) urging Singapore to reconsider its use of capital punishment and highlighting concerns over due process.
Earlier this month, SUHAKAM named Datchinamurthy alongside three other Malaysians currently facing execution in Singapore — P. Pannir Selvam, S. Saminathan, and R. Lingkesvaran — and urged Putrajaya to use all diplomatic and legal avenues available to protect its citizens.
The CNB maintained that Datchinamurthy had received full legal representation and due process throughout his trial and appeal. “Datchinamurthy’s petitions to the President for clemency were unsuccessful,” it said.
Singapore continues to face international scrutiny for its mandatory death penalty laws, particularly for non-violent drug offences.
The United Nations has renewed its call for the republic to review its capital punishment regime in light of evolving global human rights standards. - September 25, 2025