Stateless man, 79, hanged in S'pore for heroin trafficking
Under the Misuse of Drugs Act, the death penalty is imposed if the amount of diamorphine trafficked is more than 15 grams.
A 79-year-old stateless man, Teo Yiu Kin Tee, was executed in Singapore on August 7, 2023, for heroin trafficking. According to the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB), he was afforded full legal rights throughout the trial and appeal process. Despite submitting clemency petitions, Teo's pleas for leniency were denied. Arrested in January 2020 near the junction of Bendeemer Road and Geylang Bahru Road, the 72-year-old unemployed individual was found in possession of 845 grams of drugs, including 24.81 grams of pure diamorphine and S$5,350 in cash.
Initially claiming the substances were for personal consumption, Teo's defense was dismissed as medically and financially implausible. The High Court ultimately convicted him of trafficking, leading to a mandatory death penalty. The CNB's statement emphasized that capital punishment is reserved for the most egregious crimes, causing significant harm to individuals, families, and society.
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