A Dutch businessman who would be the first Westerner executed for drug smuggling here won a reprieve Friday of at least one week as his government made last-ditch efforts to save his life.
The case highlighted Singapore's harsh brand of justice that critics say has created a safe society at the expense of personal liberties.President Ong Teng Cheong this week rejected a clemency plea by Johannes van Damme, who has been on death row since he was convicted in April 1993 of possessing about 10 pounds of heroin.
It was feared that van Damme, 58, would go to the gallows Friday. Executions are carried out on Fridays, before dawn.
But Prison Department spokeswoman Yim Pui Fun said there were no hangings Friday, giving the Dutch government at least another week to fight for van Damme's life.
"We supported van Damme in his appeal for humanitarian reasons. We did so actively and we are still trying to help him," Dutch Foreign Ministry spokesman Pieter van der Geer said in The Hague.