M Ravi leads death penalty fight in Singapore

INTERVIEW | The execution of Nagaenthran Dharmalingam, a Malaysian man with an intellectual disability, shook the nation in recent months. He was sent to the gallows after being arrested as a 21-year-old for trying to smuggle 42.72g of heroin into Singapore in 2009. The punishment was carried out on April 27, he was 34.

His case drew global attention as his legal team attempted to commute his sentence, putting the spotlight on Singapore's use of the death penalty.

The Singapore government calls the death penalty "a vital component" of its criminal justice system, claiming it helps preserve its reputation as one of the safest countries.

While many lawyers shy away from such cases, M Ravi has made his name by taking them on. He was Nagaenthran's lawyer, and despite the unfortunate outcome, has vowed to keep fighting.

"It has only spurred me to...