Amnesty International Malaysia and the Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network (Adpan) submitted a joint petition of clemency for Nagaenthran K Dharmalingam to the Singapore High Commission today.

Nagaenthran was arrested in Singapore on April 22, 2009 for smuggling 42.72gm of diamorphine and was sentenced to death by the republic’s High Court on Nov 22, 2010.

On March 1, the Singapore Court of Appeal heard his last-ditch bid to be spared. The court subsequently reserved judgment with a decision on his fate still unknown.

Adpan executive director Dobby Chew said although the hearing was inconclusive, it left the door open for Nagaenthran to be spared.

“Based on the information we have on the exchange between the judges and the public prosecutor, it appears there was no clear position on what happens to a person on death row if his mental capacity is deteriorated and he is unfit for execution.

“In which case, a clear avenue is open for Nagaenthran to put in a clemency petition,” he told reporters after meeting with a representative of the high commission.

The defence argued that Nagaenthran has an IQ of 69 – a level recognised as a disability – and was coerced into committing the crime.

Amnesty International Malaysia’s Brian Yap said there are grave concerns of multiple violations of human rights laws and standards in the case that rendered an execution unlawful.

“I urge the Singapore president to halt the scheduled execution, commute Nagaenthran’s sentence and establish an official moratorium on all death sentences as a first step towards the full abolition of the penalty,” he said.

The group, consisting of eight people from both NGOs, assembled outside the high commission holding posters and placards with pictures of Nagaenthran, calling for his execution to be halted.