Singapore Court Grants Malaysian Drug Trafficker a Last-Minute Stay of Execution

Pannir Selvam Pranthaman's execution was halted hours before it was set to occur, pending a new appeal and ongoing legal challenges.

Pannir Selvam Pranthaman, a Malaysian man convicted of trafficking 51.84 grams of heroin, received a stay of execution from Singapore's Court of Appeal just hours before his scheduled hanging.
The court granted the reprieve to allow Pannir to pursue a new appeal, citing reasonable prospects of success on certain legal grounds, including a constitutional challenge to Singapore’s drug laws.
This is the second time Pannir's execution has been stayed; he was previously granted a reprieve in 2019 to challenge the outcome of a clemency petition.
Pannir has consistently claimed he was unaware he was transporting drugs, but was sentenced to death in 2017 under Singapore’s strict anti-drug trafficking laws, which mandate capital punishment for trafficking over 15 grams of heroin.
Rights activists and international organizations continue to call for a moratorium on the death penalty in Singapore, arguing it disproportionately targets low-level offenders and lacks evidence of deterrence.