Singapore
2026
- GOVERNMENT
- parliamentary republic
- CONSTITUTION
- June 3, 1959, amended in 1965
- LEGAL SYSTEM
- based on English common law
- LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM
- unicameral, Parliament
- JUDICIAL SYSTEM
- Supreme Court, the head appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister, other judges appointed by the president on the recommendation of the chief justice
RELIGIONS
42.5% Buddhists, 14.9% Muslims, 8.5% Taoists, 4.8% Catholics, other
From the country
- NOVEMBER 4, 2020SingaporeDEATH PENALTY
SINGAPORE: MAN WHO ESCAPED THE GALLOWS FOR KILLING CNB OFFICER GETS DEATH SENTENCE FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
A 61-year-old man on 2 November 2020 was sentenced to the mandatory death penalty in Singapore for trafficking in at least 78.77g of heroin, almost three decades after escaping the hangman’s noose for killing a Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) officer.
OCTOBER 22, 2020SingaporeDEATH PENALTYSINGAPORE: COURT OF APPEAL DISMISSES APPLICATION BY DRUG TRAFFICKER ON DEATH ROW
The Court of Appeal of Singapore on 16 October 2020 dismissed an application by a drug trafficker on death row for a review of his case, reminding defence counsels not to invoke the review process lightly and without reasonable basis or they will face san
OCTOBER 20, 2020SingaporeDEATH PENALTYSINGAPORE: MALAYSIAN MAN ESCAPES HANGING AFTER BEING ACQUITTED ON DRUG CHARGE BY COURT OF APPEAL
A 38-year-old Malaysian man escaped the noose when he was acquitted by the Court of Appeal on 13 October 2020 of a charge of being a drug courier.
OCTOBER 19, 2020SingaporeDEATH PENALTYSINGAPORE: MALAYSIAN ESCAPES GALLOWS AFTER COURT OF APPEAL REVERSES DEATH SENTENCE
Singapore’s Court of Appeal on 19 October 2020 set aside a previous death sentence it meted out to Gobi Avedian, a Malaysian who was convicted of drug trafficking.
OCTOBER 11, 2020SingaporeDEATH PENALTYSINGAPORE: MINISTER FOR HOME AFFAIRS SHANMUGAM, ‘DEATH PENALTY IS A DETERRENT’
Statistics and studies over the years show the death penalty has had a deterrent effect on some serious crimes in Singapore, said Minister for Home Affairs and Law K. Shanmugam on 5 October 2020.
- MAY 20, 2020SingaporeDEATH PENALTY
SINGAPORE SLAMMED FOR 'CRUEL' ZOOM DEATH SENTENCE
Singapore was criticised for being "cruel and inhumane" on 20 May 2020 after a death sentence was handed down via video-conferencing platform Zoom.
MAY 18, 2020SingaporeDEATH PENALTYSINGAPORE: DRUG OFFENDER GETS DEATH SENTENCE VIA REMOTE HEARING
A Malaysian debt collector, who was implicated by two drug couriers as the mastermind behind a heroin transaction, was sentenced to hang in Singapore on 15 May 2020.
APRIL 23, 2020SingaporeDEATH PENALTYSINGAPORE: MAN ESCAPES GALLOWS AFTER BEING CLEARED OF DRUG TRAFFICKING CHARGE BY COURT OF APPEAL
A 27-year-old man who was originally handed the death penalty in Singapore for driving his friend to pick up drugs, escaped the gallows on 23 April 2020 after he was cleared by the Court of Appeal.
- APRIL 6, 2020SingaporeDEATH PENALTY
SINGAPORE: COURT OF APPEAL ACQUITS CONVICT ON DEATH ROW OF TWO CAPITAL DRUG CHARGES
Singapore's Court of Appeal on 31 March 2020 acquitted a convicted drug trafficker on death row of two capital drug charges and sentenced him to eight years' jail instead for drug possession.
- MARCH 17, 2020SingaporeDEATH PENALTY
SINGAPORE: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING; HIS BROTHER GETS LIFE IMPRISONMENT
A man was sentenced to hang on 21 February 2020 by the Singapore High Court on drug-related charges, while in the same case his brother was sentenced to life in prison.
- JANUARY 1, 2020SingaporeDEATH PENALTY
Capital crimes are: murder, treason, offences against the President, illegal possession of arms, kidnapping and causing an innocent person to be executed by bearing false witness.
Capital crimes are: murder, treason, offences against the President, illegal possession of arms, kidnapping and causing an innocent person to be executed by bearing false witness.
NOVEMBER 25, 2019SingaporeDEATH PENALTYSINGAPORE: MALAYSIAN HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
A Malaysian, Abd Helmi Ab Halim, on 22 November 2019 was hanged at Changi Prison after having been convicted of drug trafficking in 2017.