DEATH SENTENCES

Mr Chia Shi Teck asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) how many (i) Singaporeans and (ii) foreigners were sentenced to death for (i) drug trafficking and (ii) murder from 1990 to 1993 annually; (b) how many persons are now serving the death sentence; and (c) whether statistics have shown that the death sentence has deterred or reduced crimes.

Mr Wong Kan Seng: (a) The statistics are given at Annex B (Cols. 85 - 86). The increase in the number of persons sentenced to death in 1993, especially for drug-related offences was due to the faster court hearings and the switch from the two-judge system for capital cases to a one-judge system that year. It was also due to several successes by CNB in arresting members of major drug syndicates. Annex B - PERSONS SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER AND DRUG-RELATED OFFENCES (Cols. 85 - 86)

(b) As at 22nd April 1994, there were 99 persons in the death row. Most of them are either awaiting appeal to the Court of Criminal Appeal, preparing their petition for clemency or awaiting the outcome of their petition for clemency.

(c) Statistics have shown that the death penalty has a strong deterrent effect on offences such as kidnapping, firearm robbery and drug trafficking. Prior to 1973, firearm robbery was on the rise reaching a peak of 174 cases in 1973. A dramatic drop was witnessed following the introduction of the death penalty for such offences. There were less than 10 cases per year in the last five years.

The introduction of the death penalty for kidnapping in 1961 had likewise resulted in a dramatic drop in such cases. There were only six cases of kidnapping reported in the last 10 years, compared to a peak of 38 cases in 1959 alone.

In the case of drug trafficking, the introduction of the death penalty has the deterrent effect of preventing organised drug syndicates from establishing themselves in Singapore and has helped keep the drug situation here under control despite our proximity to the Golden Triangle.