There are four Acts of Parliament in Singapore that prescribe death as punishment for offences. According to the local civil rights group, the Think Centre, 70% of hangings are for drug-related offences.
Penal Code
Under the Penal Code,the commission of the following offences may result in the death penalty:
* Waging or attempting to wage war or abetting the waging of war against the Government*
* Offences against the President’s person*
* Mutiny
* Piracy that endangers life
* Perjury that results in the execution of an innocent person
* Murder
* Abetting the suicide of a person under the age of 18 or an "insane" person
* Attempted murder by a prisoner serving a life sentence
* Kidnapping or abducting in order to murder
* Robbery committed by five or more people that results in the death of a person
* Drug trafficking
* Unlawful discharge of firearms (firearms are heavily restricted in the city)
*In other words, treason.
Misuse of Drugs Act
The Singapore embarkation card contains a warning to visitors about the death penalty for drug trafficking. Warning signs can also be found at the Johor-Singapore Causeway and other border entries.
Under Schedule 2 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, any person found in possession of more than the following quantities of drugs receives a mandatory death sentence:
* Opium: 1,200 g, containing more than 30 g of morphine
* Any controlled drug (except opium): containing more than 30 g of morphine
* Diamorphine (Heroin): 15 g
* Morphine: 30 g
* Cocaine: 30 g
* Cannabis: 500 g
* Cannabis mixture: 1,000 g
* Hashish: 200 g
* Methamphetamine: 250 g
Death sentences are also mandatory for any person caught manufacturing
* Morphine, or any salt of morphine, ester of morphine or salt of ester of morphine
* Diamorphine (Heroin) or any salt of diamorphine
* Cocaine or any salt of cocaine
The Act, to some degree, reverses the usual burden of proof in common law jurisdictions. Under the Act any person found in possession of more than the prescribed amounts is presumed to be trafficking. Any person who has in their possession a key to a premises where drugs are found is presumed to be in possession of the drugs since "Any person who is proved to have had in his possession or custody or under his control —
(a) anything containing a controlled drug;
(b) the keys of anything containing a controlled drug;
(c) the keys of any place or premises or any part thereof in which a controlled drug is found; or
(d) a document of title relating to a controlled drug or any other document intended for the delivery of a controlled drug,
shall, until the contrary is proved, be presumed to have had that drug in his possession."
Furthermore, any person who is proved or presumed to have had a controlled drug in his possession shall be presumed to have known the nature of that drug.
Internal Security Act
The preamble of the Internal Security Act states that it is an Act to "provide for the internal security of Singapore, preventive detention, the prevention of subversion, the suppression of organised violence against persons and property in specified areas of Singapore, and for matters incidental thereto."[13] The President of Singapore has the power to designate certain security areas. Any person caught in the possession or with someone in possession of firearms, ammunition or explosives in a security area can be punished by death.
Arms Offences Act
The Arms Offences Act regulates firearms offences. Any person who uses or attempts to use arms (Section 4) can face execution, as well as any person who uses or attempts to use arms to commit scheduled offences (Section 4A). These scheduled offences are:- being a member of an unlawful assembly; rioting; certain offences against the person; abduction or kidnapping; extortion; burglary; robbery; preventing or resisting arrest; vandalism; mischief. Any person who is an accomplice (Section 5) to a person convicted of arms use during a scheduled offence can likewise be executed.
Trafficking in arms (Section 6) is a capital offence in Singapore. Under the Arms Offences Act, trafficking is defined as being in unlawful possession of more than two firearms.
Kidnapping Act
The terms of the Kidnapping Act designate abduction, wrongful restraint or wrongful confinement for ransom as capital offences.