Shanmugam Murugesu

Shanmugam Murugesu (c.1967 – 13 May 2005) was a Tamil Singaporean executed for smuggling 1.03 kg of cannabis into Singapore from Malaysia. Such offenses carry a mandatory death sentence under Singapore's Misuse of Drugs Act.

Prior to his death, Murugesu's case was publicized by campaigners against capital punishment in Singapore, which has the highest per capita rates of legalized execution in the world.Fact|date=May 2008

His mother campaigned for his sentence to be reduced, defending her son by stating he spent eight years in the Singapore Army and otherwise had no criminal record. She stated "Give him 5, 10 or 20 years, do not take his life."Fact|date=August 2008

Shanmugum had also served in other government sectors like the Singapore Sports Council for another 4 years. He had also represented Singapore in water sports events like the 1995 World Championship Jetski Finals in Lake Havasu, Arizona, USA. Before his arrest, Shanmugram worked as a taxidriver and a free-lance window cleaner to support his sons and mother. He also contributed income to his sister and her 3 children. He did not have any previous convictions except for a minor traffic offence.

Murugesu is survived by his wife and two sons.

External links

* [http://empower-sg.http3.net/Shanmugram.pdf The Humble Petition of Shanmugam s/o Murugesu]
* [http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,1479037,00.html "Singapore finally finds a voice in death row protest"] from "The Observer" newspaper.