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Był sobie wesoły kat
Singapur ma jeden z najwyższych na świecie wskaźników egzekucji na jednego mieszkańca. Rząd twierdzi, że tylko kara śmierci może zniechęcać handlarzy narkotyków do wykorzystywania ich kraju jako węzła transportowego, ale to twarde śledztwo ujawnia niepokojące prawdy o tym, jak i kiedy stosuje się karę śmierci.
Wywiady z głównym katem Singapuru Darshanem Singhiem, który wykonywał swoje obowiązki przez prawie pięćdziesiąt lat, oraz mrożące krew w żyłach głośne sprawy kryminalne, w tym egzekucja australijskiego obywatela Nguyena Van Tuonga, dają świadectwo rażącego nadużycia praw człowieka w tym kraju.
Kiedy ta książka została po raz pierwszy opublikowana w Azji w lipcu 2010 roku, jej autor, brytyjski dziennikarz Alan Shadrake, został aresztowany i osądzony, a następnie skazany na karę więzienia za odwagę postawienia singapurskiego wymiaru sprawiedliwości na świeczniku uwagi publicznej. To poprawione i zaktualizowane wydanie obejmuje aresztowanie Shadrake’a i jego ciągłą kampanię przeciwko karze śmierci, którą prowadził w trakcie przygotowywania się do odwołania od wyroku.
Wywiady z głównym katem Singapuru Darshanem Singhiem, który wykonywał swoje obowiązki przez prawie pięćdziesiąt lat, oraz mrożące krew w żyłach głośne sprawy kryminalne, w tym egzekucja australijskiego obywatela Nguyena Van Tuonga, dają świadectwo rażącego nadużycia praw człowieka w tym kraju.
Kiedy ta książka została po raz pierwszy opublikowana w Azji w lipcu 2010 roku, jej autor, brytyjski dziennikarz Alan Shadrake, został aresztowany i osądzony, a następnie skazany na karę więzienia za odwagę postawienia singapurskiego wymiaru sprawiedliwości na świeczniku uwagi publicznej. To poprawione i zaktualizowane wydanie obejmuje aresztowanie Shadrake’a i jego ciągłą kampanię przeciwko karze śmierci, którą prowadził w trakcie przygotowywania się do odwołania od wyroku.
- GenresNonfictionCrime
400 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
15 people are currently reading
357 people want to read
About the author
Alan Shadrake
3 books1 followerAlan Shadrake is a British author and former journalist.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
May 15, 2011
The author is a self-promoting sensationalist who calls himself an investigative journalist. He keeps repeating himself and the publishers have apparently not edited this collection of article drafts.
It's an easy read. Somewhat entertaining, but very frustrating if you are looking for a trustworthy and well-written source of the history of Singapore's death penalty.
It's an easy read. Somewhat entertaining, but very frustrating if you are looking for a trustworthy and well-written source of the history of Singapore's death penalty.
May 3, 2014
The contents of this well-researched book were so depraved and disturbing, that it took me several weeks to (1) finish reading the book in its entirety, and (2) gather my thoughts about it in order to write a cohesive review.
I would have thought that the book was a work of fiction were it not for the ‘non-fiction’ label at the back of the book in the print version.
Back in 2013, former ISD director Mr. Yoong Siew Wah mentioned “the callousness of the Singapore government” on his blog.
This callous and insensitive aspect that is completely lacking in any compassion for humanity, is certainly apparent in Once A Jolly Hangman. The title alone points to the bizarre nature of the system, where the macabre act of hanging a human being is undertaken with joy as if it were a festive occasion and cause for celebration.
Perhaps the most morbid fact mentioned is the “Death Row Diet.”
As it says in the book, “Beyond the walls of Changi Prison hanged prisoners’ organs are worth tens of thousands of dollars each.”
As if this fact of profiting from dead prisoners’ bodies were not deplorable enough, the prisoners on death row who sign the consent form to donate their organs for transplant or research are put on a special regime known as the Death Row Diet. This diet consists of high-quality, nutritious food to “ensure the organs are in perfect condition for transplant after they are hanged.”
Is this not a form of ultimate exploitation of human life, where one profits handsomely from the dead and forgotten?
The other thoroughly disgusting component of the book has to do with the racial bias of the elites. The author, Alan Shadrake, structures the book around several real-life accounts to show how people with money and the right connections have the means to prevent themselves from being executed by the state. If you’re poor, uneducated, or of an undesirable race (or, to phrase it a little better, your skin colour is not the right one), yours is the “pitiful, hopeless situation” where even the innocent may end up being executed.
Alan Shadrake went to jail because of this book — for contempt by scandalising the court. A scandal can be defined as an action or event regarded as morally or legally wrong and causing general public outrage. How is the author scandalising the court when his book is based on scandalous facts?
What Alan Shadrake did with this book was to give the deceased a human face, since their lives weren’t worth anything to the Singapore authorities (apart from what could be gained from their organs, post-mortem). This further highlights the hypocrisy of Changi Prison’s motto.
I didn’t even know Changi Hilton — I mean, Changi Prison — had a motto until reading this book. That motto is:
“Captains of Lives: Rehab, Renew, Restart.”
From their own website:
“RENEW is a commitment an inmate makes to change his/her life for the better. Through the CARE Network, our offenders are given opportunities to restart their lives.”
Renew? Restart? Tell that to the families of Flor Contemplacion, Angel Mou Pui-Peng, Amara Tochi, Shanmugam Murugesu (a Tamil Singaporean former jet ski champion and army regular), Nguyen Van Tuong, Vignes Mourthi, and countless others who were executed in Singapore for being at the wrong place at the wrong time, without the riches or powerful connections to help them out of their dire situation. Or to the family members of Huizuan with regard to her tragic death in Changi Women’s Prison in 2011, which could have been avoided if more care had been shown by the prison staff in her medical condition before her death.
What is even worse is that Changi Prison sends out a letter to the families of the individual on death row informing them of when the execution will take place — a letter which has that same motto emblazoned on the bottom of the page.
This was truly one of the most despicable and morbid books I’ve ever read. It reveals a darker side which the authorities would likely prefer to keep hidden beneath the country’s veneer of justice, cleanliness and efficiency.
I would have thought that the book was a work of fiction were it not for the ‘non-fiction’ label at the back of the book in the print version.
Back in 2013, former ISD director Mr. Yoong Siew Wah mentioned “the callousness of the Singapore government” on his blog.
This callous and insensitive aspect that is completely lacking in any compassion for humanity, is certainly apparent in Once A Jolly Hangman. The title alone points to the bizarre nature of the system, where the macabre act of hanging a human being is undertaken with joy as if it were a festive occasion and cause for celebration.
Perhaps the most morbid fact mentioned is the “Death Row Diet.”
As it says in the book, “Beyond the walls of Changi Prison hanged prisoners’ organs are worth tens of thousands of dollars each.”
As if this fact of profiting from dead prisoners’ bodies were not deplorable enough, the prisoners on death row who sign the consent form to donate their organs for transplant or research are put on a special regime known as the Death Row Diet. This diet consists of high-quality, nutritious food to “ensure the organs are in perfect condition for transplant after they are hanged.”
Is this not a form of ultimate exploitation of human life, where one profits handsomely from the dead and forgotten?
The other thoroughly disgusting component of the book has to do with the racial bias of the elites. The author, Alan Shadrake, structures the book around several real-life accounts to show how people with money and the right connections have the means to prevent themselves from being executed by the state. If you’re poor, uneducated, or of an undesirable race (or, to phrase it a little better, your skin colour is not the right one), yours is the “pitiful, hopeless situation” where even the innocent may end up being executed.
Alan Shadrake went to jail because of this book — for contempt by scandalising the court. A scandal can be defined as an action or event regarded as morally or legally wrong and causing general public outrage. How is the author scandalising the court when his book is based on scandalous facts?
What Alan Shadrake did with this book was to give the deceased a human face, since their lives weren’t worth anything to the Singapore authorities (apart from what could be gained from their organs, post-mortem). This further highlights the hypocrisy of Changi Prison’s motto.
I didn’t even know Changi Hilton — I mean, Changi Prison — had a motto until reading this book. That motto is:
“Captains of Lives: Rehab, Renew, Restart.”
From their own website:
“RENEW is a commitment an inmate makes to change his/her life for the better. Through the CARE Network, our offenders are given opportunities to restart their lives.”
Renew? Restart? Tell that to the families of Flor Contemplacion, Angel Mou Pui-Peng, Amara Tochi, Shanmugam Murugesu (a Tamil Singaporean former jet ski champion and army regular), Nguyen Van Tuong, Vignes Mourthi, and countless others who were executed in Singapore for being at the wrong place at the wrong time, without the riches or powerful connections to help them out of their dire situation. Or to the family members of Huizuan with regard to her tragic death in Changi Women’s Prison in 2011, which could have been avoided if more care had been shown by the prison staff in her medical condition before her death.
What is even worse is that Changi Prison sends out a letter to the families of the individual on death row informing them of when the execution will take place — a letter which has that same motto emblazoned on the bottom of the page.
This was truly one of the most despicable and morbid books I’ve ever read. It reveals a darker side which the authorities would likely prefer to keep hidden beneath the country’s veneer of justice, cleanliness and efficiency.
December 1, 2020
"This book exposes many cases where vulnerable young people, in all kinds of desperate situations, have committed crimes through fear and threats of death from drug syndicates . . . In several cases I have investigated in Singapore, narcotics police, using well-paid informants, have helped 'load' the evidence in sting operations involving minor marijuana smugglers to ensure they end up on the gallows. In another case, a young man of 21 was hanged on the questionable evidence of a Central Narcotics Bureau officer who was later jailed for 15 months for corruption in another case. This case alone is a sound and compelling argument to abolish the death penalty in Singapore."
Reading this book I realised the argument around the death is goes beyond the question of punishment. The problem of drugs is a huge and systemic, it won't go away with killing drug mules. It is terrifying how people who were probably innocent have been hanged just to maintain this legal stance. While we hang low level mules, Singapore invests heavily in the country with the highest heroin production in the world. If they cared about ending the war on drugs, there are big steps they could take that would be more effective, but they are not doing it. Please read the excerpts I've pictured, I was so disturbed and angry. If we want to hang someone, the system better be perfect, but it's not.
The Changi prison motto is "rehab renew restart". Yet there is also death penalty, a decision that is irrevocable. Singapore often uses the excuse that we're not like the "West", yet our death penalty was a British law that was retained. We even use a British method of hanging (Table of drops method).
Alan Shadrake interviewed Singapore's hangman, who technically isn't allowed to speak about his job due to the Official Secrets Act. I was aware the book isn't perfect, needed better editing, and interviewees were not always named, but that's because there is so little transparency in the system. Journalists have a very difficult time trying to report it. He was jailed for 5 weeks for "scandalising the judiciary" for this book.
Reading this book I realised the argument around the death is goes beyond the question of punishment. The problem of drugs is a huge and systemic, it won't go away with killing drug mules. It is terrifying how people who were probably innocent have been hanged just to maintain this legal stance. While we hang low level mules, Singapore invests heavily in the country with the highest heroin production in the world. If they cared about ending the war on drugs, there are big steps they could take that would be more effective, but they are not doing it. Please read the excerpts I've pictured, I was so disturbed and angry. If we want to hang someone, the system better be perfect, but it's not.
The Changi prison motto is "rehab renew restart". Yet there is also death penalty, a decision that is irrevocable. Singapore often uses the excuse that we're not like the "West", yet our death penalty was a British law that was retained. We even use a British method of hanging (Table of drops method).
Alan Shadrake interviewed Singapore's hangman, who technically isn't allowed to speak about his job due to the Official Secrets Act. I was aware the book isn't perfect, needed better editing, and interviewees were not always named, but that's because there is so little transparency in the system. Journalists have a very difficult time trying to report it. He was jailed for 5 weeks for "scandalising the judiciary" for this book.
September 29, 2011
I found this book to be very interesting -- living in Singapore, you live in a bit of a bubble as much of the information discussed in this book is not openly discussed in the media or amongst Singaporeans or expats. Certainly, there were a lot of things that I did not know about the laws here, though I did know they can be very repressive. Without discussion of them in the papers, you don't think about it much. I'm glad I read, though I did find the writing style to not be as scholarly as the writer seemed to think.
August 2, 2014
This is disgusting journalism - speculative, sensational, weakly substantiated. The only merit this book has (I'm still irritated I have to give this 1 star instead of half) is its compilation - not even of facts, but of hearsay and gossip. The book does raise some interesting questions, but in a manner so crudely and clumsily that it is more a turnoff than intriguing.
This sums it up: "Mr Shadrake once again displays a tendency to distort his own sources for his own purposes," as per AG v Shadrake Alan [2010] SGHC 327 at [103].
This sums it up: "Mr Shadrake once again displays a tendency to distort his own sources for his own purposes," as per AG v Shadrake Alan [2010] SGHC 327 at [103].
October 21, 2010
Reading this book is just like reading some gossip magazines. Alan presumes, thinks and assumes quite a bit in this book. Towards this end of this book, I could even feel he got so carried away in his own self-created thoughts. He has quite a lot of 'someone from somewhere told me reliable information about this and that' which is more to me like 'A little birdie told me this and that'.
Still, I find it rather silly to have this author arrested over a book.
Still, I find it rather silly to have this author arrested over a book.
November 23, 2010
Sad to see that the exposure of Singapore's death penalty practices received such short attention from Shadrake.
Repetitive, pedantic, and horribly edited.
Repetitive, pedantic, and horribly edited.
February 27, 2012
Sensationalistic tripe
March 10, 2020
Kind of insightful, sad but biased and sensationalized.
March 10, 2024
What a pity, I was looking forward to reading this book. It is, however, plagued with unaccounted for claims / conspiracies and did not have any intention of shining light on Mr Darshan Singh’s career.
Instead, the author sought to pursue his criticism of capital punishment in Singapore. Often repeating the same points across chapters without actually understanding the subject matter. What a shame he considered himself a “tell all journalist”.
Instead, the author sought to pursue his criticism of capital punishment in Singapore. Often repeating the same points across chapters without actually understanding the subject matter. What a shame he considered himself a “tell all journalist”.
Read
June 30, 2011On the cover it says… true stories form Singapore’s death row.. A personnel account of the abuse in an “undemocratic country” corruption, drug smuggling, intimidation
Economic poverty
I could go on with the one liners of which I am sure that Amnesty international
Have piles of them on there desks
As for others, one mans democracy is another ternary.
Then of course there is the (organ-harvesting)..Of the dead bodies. This practice is on the increase in Europe with some ignorant M.Ps saying that the untied kingdom should adopt this rather than (consent)..Then the mother of two children hanged what happened to them..!(Who can discern this circumference of “good and evil”… as each follow one another, as night follows day.)
This section includes all non-symbolic monarchies. In many, there are no elections of any kind. In others, there is elected legislative input, but substantial executive and/or judicial power resides in a hereditary leader or very small hereditarily determined oligarchy.
Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordon, morocco, Bhutan, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Omar, Qatar, Swaziland, Nepal, Malaysia…
Theocracies… the only one that comes to mind is IRAN.
COUNTRYS OF ONE POINT GOVERMENTS
Camaroon,china, Cuba, north Korea, Laos, Vietnam, Syria,
COUNTRYS WITH DICTATORS
Central African republic, Congo, equatorial guinea, Egypt, Ethiopia, Pakistan, Myanmar-(Burma).. Kazakhstan, Libya, Sudan, Turkmenistan,
COUNTRYS WITH TRANSITIINAL GOVERMENTS
Afghanistan, Cambodia, Egypt, eithera , Haiti, Iraq ivory-coast , Liberia, Nepal, Russia,
Kazakhstan,
Countries with Governments With Incomplete Control of their National Territories really does not fit in to this review
September 6, 2020
Poorly written.
I started the book excited because I can’t wait to hear all that the greatest hangman in history has to say. In the end, the bits from Darshan Singh was so scanty. After awhile, I know that the main focus is not the hangman but rather the death penalty cases in Singapore. Alan is a messy thinker. Not only he repeats himself throughout the book, his thought process is hard to follow.
At some point towards the end of the book, it feels like he was ranting and venting about the injustice done to these cases. While he claimed to be an investigative journalist, I don’t see that bit showcased. Instead in its place, I saw an angry and disheveled person sharing a garb of gibberish passing off as glorified essays.
I supposed the publishers gave up editing his book after awhile. There are so many errors and typos and mismashes of sentences etc.
I started the book excited because I can’t wait to hear all that the greatest hangman in history has to say. In the end, the bits from Darshan Singh was so scanty. After awhile, I know that the main focus is not the hangman but rather the death penalty cases in Singapore. Alan is a messy thinker. Not only he repeats himself throughout the book, his thought process is hard to follow.
At some point towards the end of the book, it feels like he was ranting and venting about the injustice done to these cases. While he claimed to be an investigative journalist, I don’t see that bit showcased. Instead in its place, I saw an angry and disheveled person sharing a garb of gibberish passing off as glorified essays.
I supposed the publishers gave up editing his book after awhile. There are so many errors and typos and mismashes of sentences etc.
April 3, 2022
The ugly truth behind the too beautiful, and too perfect Singapore. The true colors of the corrupted politics and finance and the drug market.
The author revealed the real picture behind the justice system of Singapore by digging deep in to the death penalty for the people who were part of the drug business happening inside the country and the distribution through the country.
How the Singapore justice system and the government use the historic death penalty to punish the people without proper investigation and take nothing but the financial capability of the people who are involved and the benefits of keeping ones alive for the country. They way they used the legal system to shut people up and control the freedom of speech and the freedom of getting together for a good cause.
How the poor got the death penalty while the rich who were in the business in a huge level avoid the punishments. Though the title is about the hangman, the real story is about the unfair legal system. How stubborn the Singapore has been as a country and how they supported the drug distribution while punishing the poor and the people who stood against the injustice.
This book is a golden treasure for all the people in the world. It's a remarkable representation of correct perspectives for certain situations, laws and human factors.
The author revealed the real picture behind the justice system of Singapore by digging deep in to the death penalty for the people who were part of the drug business happening inside the country and the distribution through the country.
How the Singapore justice system and the government use the historic death penalty to punish the people without proper investigation and take nothing but the financial capability of the people who are involved and the benefits of keeping ones alive for the country. They way they used the legal system to shut people up and control the freedom of speech and the freedom of getting together for a good cause.
How the poor got the death penalty while the rich who were in the business in a huge level avoid the punishments. Though the title is about the hangman, the real story is about the unfair legal system. How stubborn the Singapore has been as a country and how they supported the drug distribution while punishing the poor and the people who stood against the injustice.
This book is a golden treasure for all the people in the world. It's a remarkable representation of correct perspectives for certain situations, laws and human factors.
March 2, 2025
Extremely repetitive and it appears to be unedited/not proof-read before being published. I can’t recall how often the “learning the ropes” joke was slipped in, or the details about the drop table and the executioner’s outfit.
This book is just as much investigative journalism as the Sun is an academic novel. It’s just sensationalist reporting by an author that simply can’t understand that the laws in Singapore are very black and white. It doesn’t matter if you’re potentially of low IQ or vulnerable, mitigating circumstances are not necessarily a reason to get a lighter sentence. This is not Australia or Western Europe.
And then hammering down on “there still is drug abuse in Singapore so it’s not working”. No one is denying that Singapore is drug free. But the goal is to keep it as low as possible and it seems to be working. I have not seen skid row like situations here, and luckily it’s unlikely to happen as well.
Yes the government is in tight control of a lot of things, and will always keep a bigger picture in mind to do what’s best for the country. But I was expecting shocking leaps of judgement while in fact the author simply proves that those that confessed to the crimes they committed got the penalty applied as per the penal code.
This book is just as much investigative journalism as the Sun is an academic novel. It’s just sensationalist reporting by an author that simply can’t understand that the laws in Singapore are very black and white. It doesn’t matter if you’re potentially of low IQ or vulnerable, mitigating circumstances are not necessarily a reason to get a lighter sentence. This is not Australia or Western Europe.
And then hammering down on “there still is drug abuse in Singapore so it’s not working”. No one is denying that Singapore is drug free. But the goal is to keep it as low as possible and it seems to be working. I have not seen skid row like situations here, and luckily it’s unlikely to happen as well.
Yes the government is in tight control of a lot of things, and will always keep a bigger picture in mind to do what’s best for the country. But I was expecting shocking leaps of judgement while in fact the author simply proves that those that confessed to the crimes they committed got the penalty applied as per the penal code.
May 19, 2025
The stories were interesting but frequently interspersed with what I felt like the author preaching at me about Orwellian Singapore!! Everyone living in fear!! Human rights perverted!!
I live in Singapore and I’m leaning towards the abolitionists’ camp too, but this turned me off that pov. If you wanted to convince, maybe have less fist-shaking preaching and more logical persuasion? Maybe have a more nuanced picture of the country?
(For eg, the fact that Singapore invests in Myanmar and some of its companies even though they have suspected drug links… unfortunately we are not big enough to have the luxury of acting purely based on principle. We can’t afford to forgo the opportunity when bigger players like China, Russia will gladly use it to expand their sphere of influence.)
Otherwise, I can’t help but agree with another reviewer who said that this was just sensationalistic.
(The book could do with a lot more editing too. It’s very repetitive and the stories/narration aren’t very tight. And the grammar, punctuation, or similar mistakes are numerous enough to be noticeable.)
I live in Singapore and I’m leaning towards the abolitionists’ camp too, but this turned me off that pov. If you wanted to convince, maybe have less fist-shaking preaching and more logical persuasion? Maybe have a more nuanced picture of the country?
(For eg, the fact that Singapore invests in Myanmar and some of its companies even though they have suspected drug links… unfortunately we are not big enough to have the luxury of acting purely based on principle. We can’t afford to forgo the opportunity when bigger players like China, Russia will gladly use it to expand their sphere of influence.)
Otherwise, I can’t help but agree with another reviewer who said that this was just sensationalistic.
(The book could do with a lot more editing too. It’s very repetitive and the stories/narration aren’t very tight. And the grammar, punctuation, or similar mistakes are numerous enough to be noticeable.)
March 8, 2019
Given how difficult it is to find data on this in Singapore, it's amazing that this book was written at all. Alan Shadrake tries to convince the reader that the law is not as impartial as it seems, and structures the book as mini-comparisons. First we see the death penalty applied to various cases, often with diplomatic backlash, and then a similar case follows, with a different outcome. I imagine that some of this evidence did not hold up in court because some is provided by anonymous insiders. To me, that does not make it any less believable. I feel similarly about Michael Barr's books, because he also includes quotes by elites who choose to remain anonymous. Unfortunately, that the court has charged him with contempt of court makes it easy for them to subsequently say his allegations are baseless. Nevertheless, the names and events of the cases are the fragments with which we can piece together a fuzzy picture.
December 11, 2022
A very quick, interesting read that I enjoyed. However, I do question a bit of the journalistic integrity that may have been lost as this was translated to a book. Some statements seemed backed up by fact (ex: Dutch not being given the death penalty after a tense diplomatic spat) but other conclusions seemed half baked and anecdotal for the sake of narrative. For example, comparing someone with 5 times the death penalty limit with someone with 1.1 times the cutoff, or comparing someone caught trafficking weed vs someone trafficking heroin. I don’t doubt the points on race, power and wealth that were made but the story seemed stronger when focusing on people and their stories rather than concluding the overarching rules of an opaque system.
June 23, 2017
The book has an interesting premise, that the Singaporean judicial system considers a number of factors (such as national origin or wealth) in determining punishment. This thesis, however, is undermined with poor writing and arguments. There is also a focus on how the hangman works in Singapore, as the author received access to him.
May 31, 2019
Though the author raises some valid issues about the death penalty and its mandatory application in drug trafficking cases, there is too much conjecture by the author. Too much imputation of motives and too much speculation. For a really serious issue such as this, the author could have done a much better job with proper research on the laws.
September 17, 2018
Took me 2 years to find a copy of this book because it is banned in my country. I have read it 3 times and it has been interesting every time. Also spoken to the author and he has enlightened me in more way then one.
August 23, 2019
Very interesting. One of those books that is not officially banned in Singapore but is not for sale anywhere either, though a lot of its contents and opinions can be found freely on the internet.
December 21, 2025
Waham się między 3 a 4. Największy problem to to, że obiecuje być o kacie i jego spojrzeniu na karę śmierci, jego portecie psychologicznym, O NIM, a nie do końca jest
November 2, 2011
Once a Jolly Hangman is a book that you can no longer find on any bookstore in Singapore. I had to pick up my personal copy across the border in Malaysia. The book isn't officially banned but bookstores across the island seem to have played it safe, less they incur the wrath of the powers that be.
The temptation to pick up the book heightened towards the end of the trial brought against its British author Alan Shadrake in 2010. The former journalist was arrested and charged for contempt of court and subsequently jailed for 6 weeks despite an international outcry. But I decided to let the dust settle so that the book may be read with a clearer head. I only picked up this book towards the end of 2011.
The work primarily revolves around an interview that the author did with Singapore's chief executioner, Darshan Singh. He is widely thought to be the most prolific hangman in recent times, having sent no less than 850 people to their death in a dubiously illustrious career of 43 years.
The death penalty is still very much a controversial topic in Singapore whose population is cleanly divided between those who oppose and those who call for its repeal. But regardless of what your position is on judicial executions, my suspicion is that you will be sickened to the gut when you read about the case of Vignes Mourthi, a Malaysian who, as the trial judge himself admitted, could possibly be innocent but sent to the gallows anyway due to an statutory obligation. Or the case of a young aspiring footballer Tochi, who was sent to his death anyway despite the lack of evidence to show that he knew what he was carrying. Read it and then make your own judgment on the death penalty in Singapore.
The book is unabashedly polemical and is littered with evidences of poor editing. But if you look beyond these flaws, it will give you sleepless nights thinking of how many innocent sons, fathers and husbands have been hanged over the years due to these statutory rigidity.
The temptation to pick up the book heightened towards the end of the trial brought against its British author Alan Shadrake in 2010. The former journalist was arrested and charged for contempt of court and subsequently jailed for 6 weeks despite an international outcry. But I decided to let the dust settle so that the book may be read with a clearer head. I only picked up this book towards the end of 2011.
The work primarily revolves around an interview that the author did with Singapore's chief executioner, Darshan Singh. He is widely thought to be the most prolific hangman in recent times, having sent no less than 850 people to their death in a dubiously illustrious career of 43 years.
The death penalty is still very much a controversial topic in Singapore whose population is cleanly divided between those who oppose and those who call for its repeal. But regardless of what your position is on judicial executions, my suspicion is that you will be sickened to the gut when you read about the case of Vignes Mourthi, a Malaysian who, as the trial judge himself admitted, could possibly be innocent but sent to the gallows anyway due to an statutory obligation. Or the case of a young aspiring footballer Tochi, who was sent to his death anyway despite the lack of evidence to show that he knew what he was carrying. Read it and then make your own judgment on the death penalty in Singapore.
The book is unabashedly polemical and is littered with evidences of poor editing. But if you look beyond these flaws, it will give you sleepless nights thinking of how many innocent sons, fathers and husbands have been hanged over the years due to these statutory rigidity.
Want to read
December 27, 2012I'm hoping to get my hands on this book soon. As most of us know, the author of this book is currently in jail in Singapore over some controversial information written in the book.
Hence, though this book is not officially banned in major bookstores in Singapore, most retailers have lifted it off the shelves as a precaution. I am really looking to get a deeper insight into the author's views of the Singapore Justice System.
With a profound knowledge in the system, one can better understand the case - arguably whether the death penalty should be abolished in Singapore.
The death penalty in Singapore has caused much controversy among many netizens and foreigners alike. I remember the trial of Van Tuong Nguyen, an Australian national who was convicted of drug trafficking in Singapore. The case had been such an uproar such that even the Australian-Singapore relations had suffered badly.
I really hope this will be a good book.
Hence, though this book is not officially banned in major bookstores in Singapore, most retailers have lifted it off the shelves as a precaution. I am really looking to get a deeper insight into the author's views of the Singapore Justice System.
With a profound knowledge in the system, one can better understand the case - arguably whether the death penalty should be abolished in Singapore.
The death penalty in Singapore has caused much controversy among many netizens and foreigners alike. I remember the trial of Van Tuong Nguyen, an Australian national who was convicted of drug trafficking in Singapore. The case had been such an uproar such that even the Australian-Singapore relations had suffered badly.
I really hope this will be a good book.
July 13, 2013
A compelling read. I suspect Alan's repetition serves readers who can stop and start throughout the book. Research is obvious though I would have liked references as much as possible.
As for the content, it is entirely reasonable to expect, and as Shadrake has uncovered, what's up with the State, the former colony. As the rest of the world has moved on, matured and become more civilized, it's important that these misgivings enter the public discourse and are read as far and wide as possible making change all the more compelling.
Historical irony: Singapore stressing it's independence by adhering to a colonial relic. Singapore itself made it's fortunes on the backs on migrant labour. Moreover, it profiteered on the opium trade between India and China by the British East India Company.
As for the content, it is entirely reasonable to expect, and as Shadrake has uncovered, what's up with the State, the former colony. As the rest of the world has moved on, matured and become more civilized, it's important that these misgivings enter the public discourse and are read as far and wide as possible making change all the more compelling.
Historical irony: Singapore stressing it's independence by adhering to a colonial relic. Singapore itself made it's fortunes on the backs on migrant labour. Moreover, it profiteered on the opium trade between India and China by the British East India Company.
September 11, 2016
Found this book in a used-book sale and got it when my friend told me it was banned I mean, strictly unsold in Singapore bookstores. Once I got started it was hard to put down, as this book is a treasure trove of information that the Singapore government would rather you not know.
One important thing to note is that Shadrake is not a lawyer or an academic. He is an investigative journalist by trade, and thus this book tends to skim deep analysis in favour of rhetorical devices and interviews. Also, I'm not sure if the edition I got was pirated, but there were quite a few grammar and syntax errors that drove me mad. However, the intriguing evidence he provided made up for that.
All in all, a book that should make every Singaporean sit up and listen.
One important thing to note is that Shadrake is not a lawyer or an academic. He is an investigative journalist by trade, and thus this book tends to skim deep analysis in favour of rhetorical devices and interviews. Also, I'm not sure if the edition I got was pirated, but there were quite a few grammar and syntax errors that drove me mad. However, the intriguing evidence he provided made up for that.
All in all, a book that should make every Singaporean sit up and listen.
March 18, 2013
Deeply disturbing how they hang people and the reasons behind why they won't stop the practice.
It certainly should make anyone ever considering using drugs in Singapore think twice.
The interview with the Jolly Hangman was eye opening I don't fully understand how one person can do that job and take so many lives and yet remain so positive about life in general, the whole book astounded me and has certainly made me view alot of things in a very different light.
And to those still fighting that long hard fight my voice is behind you all
It certainly should make anyone ever considering using drugs in Singapore think twice.
The interview with the Jolly Hangman was eye opening I don't fully understand how one person can do that job and take so many lives and yet remain so positive about life in general, the whole book astounded me and has certainly made me view alot of things in a very different light.
And to those still fighting that long hard fight my voice is behind you all
May 3, 2012
A fascinating insight into the policies of capital punishment in Singapore and the governments own adherence (or sometimes lack of) to their mantras. A necessary read for anything with an interest in Singapore. Excellently researched and I commend the bravery of the author who was arrested, questioned and charged over this book.
October 9, 2013
Excellent Book. This book offers a valuable insight to one of the system that was never published in the daily papers and not known to the public. An eye-opener indeed.
I love the part on the exclusive interview with Mr.Darshan Singh. I have yet to see any book or author digging deep into the unknown. Good read!
I love the part on the exclusive interview with Mr.Darshan Singh. I have yet to see any book or author digging deep into the unknown. Good read!
June 3, 2012
A good reminder to those who live, work or travel to Singapore that beneath all the modern glitz and glamour there lurks a justice system from a past era that has devasting consequences for those who stray to the wrong path.
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