Singapore must urgently halt planned executions of two low-IQ drug mules

Roslan bin Bakar and Pausi bin Jefridin are scheduled to be hanged today, writes Amanda Clift-Matthews

Singapore has signalled a clear intention to resume executions of death row inmates after a hiatus of more than two years (AFP via Getty Images)

Two men scheduled to be hanged in Singapore frantically raised $20,000 today buying them one more day of life.

The Court of Appeal granted a temporary reprieve while an urgent action contesting the legitimacy of their executions was heard – but only on the condition that 20,000 Singaporean dollars be paid into court to cover the state’s costs. That action was dismissed this afternoon when the lawyers representing the men were ordered to pay the state’s costs personally.

A further motion has been filed on their behalf, despite the risk of more punitive costs, and is expected to be heard first thing tomorrow morning. If the motion fails, it is unclear whether the executions will proceed immediately. But past actions of the Singaporean Prison Service in the case of Kho Jabing suggest that it could be within a matter of hours.