Execution of Saridewi Djamani

Saridewi Djamani
Born
Saridewi binte Djamani

1978 (1978)
Singapore
Died (aged 45)
Changi Prison, Singapore
Cause of deathExecution by hanging
Criminal statusExecuted
Conviction(s)Drug trafficking (one count)
Criminal chargeTrafficking of 1 kilogram of drug containing pure 30.72 g (1.084 oz) of heroin
PenaltyDeath (mandatory; x1)

Saridewi binte Djamani (1978 – 28 July 2023) was a Singaporean who was sentenced to death in 2018 for trafficking 1 kg of drug containing 30.72g of heroin. Saridewi, who committed the offence on 17 June 2016, was arrested on the same day together with the drug courier at her HDB block in Anchorvale Road, Sengkang. Saridewi, who had a long history of drug abuse, did not deny that she sold the drugs but she stated that a majority of the heroin was meant for her own consumption while less than half of the heroin was for sale, and she only stocked up the drug supply for the fasting month Ramadan.

The trial court sentenced Saridewi to the mandatory death penalty for heroin trafficking. Saridewi's accomplice, a 41-year-old Malaysian, received a life term with 15 strokes of the cane since he only acted as a courier and thus played a lesser role in the crime. Saridewi lost her appeals, and after spending five years on death row, she was hanged on 28 July 2023.[1][2][3]

Saridewi was reportedly the first woman scheduled to be hanged in Singapore in nearly 20 years after Yen May Woen in March 2004.[4][5][6] As Saridewi's execution drew near, the government of Singapore was met with international criticism and pleas for clemency.[7]

  1. ^ "Singapore to execute first woman in nearly 20 years". The New Straits Times. 25 July 2023.
  2. ^ "Singapore executes woman for first time in almost two decades". The Guardian. 28 July 2023.
  3. ^ "Singapore hangs first woman in 19 years after she was convicted of trafficking 31 grams of heroin". AP News. 28 July 2023.
  4. ^ "新加坡近20年首见女死囚运毒"30克海洛因"问绞". Sin Chew Daily (in Chinese). 26 July 2023.
  5. ^ "近20年来首名女毒贩本周送绞刑台 新加坡人权组织促停止行刑". Oriental Daily (in Chinese). 25 July 2023.
  6. ^ "不顧反對聲浪！新加坡將「處決2毒販」 20年首位女囚受絞刑". ETToday (in Chinese). 19 May 2023.
  7. ^ "Singapore hangs a man for drug trafficking. It will hang a woman on Friday — the first in 19 years". ABC News. 26 July 2023.