From: Sydney Morning Herald
http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/veteran-hangman-sacked/2005/11/28/1133026376155.htmlSingapore has sacked its long-serving hangman, just days before the scheduled execution of Australian drug smuggler Nguyen Tuong Van.
"They called me a few days ago and said I don't have to hang Nguyen and that I don't have to work anymore," Chief executioner Darshan Singh said.
"I think they [the prison authorities] must be mad after seeing my pictures in the newspapers," Singh said following reports he had been sacked after being identified by the Australian media.
Media reports said a new executioner was expected to be flown into Singapore this week to carry out the Friday's hanging of 25-year-old Nguyen Tuong Van, who was sentenced to death for carrying 400 grams of heroin while in transit at the island-nation's airport.
Singh, a 74-year-old ethnic Indian, was reported in the Australian media to have conducted more than 850 hangings in his 50-year career. The reports said Singh had wanted to retire, but the search for a replacement was unsuccessful.
Singapore's prison department could not be reached for comment.
Despite repeated pleas from Australia to reconsider clemency for the former salesman, Singapore has stood firm on its decision, saying that Nguyen was caught with enough heroin "for 26,000 doses" and that the Government would not allow Singapore to be used as a transit for illicit drugs.
Singapore has one of the world's toughest drug laws.
Laws enacted in 1975 stipulate death by hanging for anyone aged 18 or over convicted of carrying more than 15 grams of heroin, 30 grams of cocaine, 500 grams of cannabis or 250 grams of methamphetamines.
Amnesty International said in a 2004 report that about 420 people had been hanged in Singapore since 1991, mostly for drug trafficking, giving the city-state of 4.2 million people the highest execution rate in the world relative to population.
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