Singapore president stops execution of two death row inmates

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AP – Singapore’s president has ordered a delay in the execution of two men sentenced to death who are believed to be mentally disabled, a lawyer said yesterday.

The order from President Halimah binti Yacob came after lawyers for the two men filed a new legal bid to stop their hanging after losing several previous appeals. The two, who were convicted of smuggling drugs into the country, originally were to be executed on Wednesday.

Member of the law firm handling the case Ravi Madasamy wrote on Facebook that the president stayed the execution of both men.

No other details or reasons were given, but their pending execution has sparked an outcry among rights groups because of their reported disabilities.

The men would be the first to be executed in Singapore since November 2019.

The Merlion statue along the Marina Bay area in Singapore. PHOTO: AP