This could've been anyone one here...

[marty]

The issue here, surely, is the penalty. I believe that no person has the right to kill another, including as "punishment" for murder or other crimes involving the death of others. Countries that espouse and routinely practice death penalties are barbaric and have no place in a civilised world, particularly those that should know better, such as the United States of America. They should be treated with appropriate scorn and derision.

There is no evidence anywhere to suggest that capital punishment acts as a deterent for criminals, including terrorists. There is no retribution for people wrongfully convicted. And "revenge killing" should not be encouraged or practiced by governments.

I note a recent news item that State legislatures in the USA have, in total, murdered 1,000 people since the Supreme Court allowed the reintroduction of the death penalty in 1976. Appalling.

in some ways you're right hitcher, but in my opinion, countries have every right to make laws and punsihments as they see fit. if that includes the death penalty, so be it. at least singapore does it in the open - not like many other asian countries. i am sure that yopu have travelled to these countries and seen the 'drug smuggling carries the death penalty' signs, and i wonder just what this or any other person thinks as they are planning a drug run through these places.

it's certainly put ME off carrying 10000 hits of heroin to singapore!

and where are all the crying aussies for the 10000 lives mr nguyen was prepared to infect, just so his brother didn't have any debt?

[marty]

Fuck even Queen Vic liked to chase the dragon but the modern world has demonised a lot of narcotic use because some churchie wanker decided it wasn't good, mm'kay. I don't condone the use of class A's by any means and I think people need to be better educated as to the risks and effects but the biggest killer in all of this is society. Most rich drug addicts don't die, the poor ones do.

chasing the dragon doesn't carry the death penalty. this guy had 25 times the amount for execution.

he should have done the mp3 thing...

[Cookie]

Err, not me. One less is problem minus 1.

[Wolf]

I can understand how he got himself into this mess and realise that he was doing it for good, but he could have found out some more legit means.

Agreed. Or at least smuggled drugs to countries that don't execute people for 15g of street quality H.

For me, becoming a drug runner would not even rate on the list of options. Honestly, I would sooner stand trial in Australia for killing the enforcers that came after my brother than become the dealers bitch - especially if they wanted me to take the shit into a place like Singapore. OK, so he was concerned for his brother - hell, I've been concerned for mine (we did think for some he wouldn't live to see 25), but that wouldn't turn me into a drug runner.

Whatever the motive, the fact remains he knew the consequences of being caught and still decided to risk it. From the article I gather he at least is more stoic about this than some of the other snivelling bastards that have run afoul of Singaporean law. "But you can't kill me, I'm a foreigner, your laws don't apply to me, this isn't a death penalty in my country, I've done nothing bad..."

I love my kids. If they got involved in drugs I would be highly concerned and would do whatever I could to get them off the drugs. If they owed shitloads to their dealer I would do my best to protect them from the initial consequences of their stupidity (being beaten or killed by enforcers) - rest assured there would still be consequences of my own devising, especially if I had to go into hock to pay off the dealer. I would not go out and smuggle drugs to anywhere, let alone a place that executes traffickers. If an enforcer came looking for my kids, I'd do what I could to stop him - with violence if necessary even though the consequences would be the emnity of a dealer and possible repercussions from the police.

Sure, I can understand his desire to help out his brother, but I cannot comprehend his choice - and it was his choice. Only morons go around spouting "I didn't have a choice". Having my brother or kids at risk of possibly violent retribution would probably keep me up for a week weighing up and looking for choices, but I'm sure I could find a few.