Tan Xianglong, a 37-year-old from Singapore, was sentenced to nearly four years in prison for attempting to frame his estranged wife by planting cannabis in her car, knowing she could face the death penalty if convicted. The couple, who had been separated for less than two years and were still in the process of divorcing, had unresolved marital issues, with Tan frustrated by his wife’s perceived lack of financial contribution.
The ‘Perfect Plan’
Tan believed that a divorce could be granted if one party had a criminal record. After consulting with lawyers, he understood that trafficking over 500 grams of cannabis could lead to the death penalty in Singapore. Despite this, he proceeded with his plan due to his anger. Initially, Tan hired a private investigator to find evidence of his wife’s infidelity but found none. As a result, he decided to frame her by planting cannabis in her car, considering it a ‘perfect plan’ according to court documents.
Tan procured the drugs from the black market and weighed them at home, discovering they amounted to 510 grams, exceeding the death penalty threshold. However, laboratory analysis revealed the drugs contained only 216.17 grams of pure cannabis. His wife was arrested when police discovered the drugs in her car, but no further incriminating evidence was found against her. The investigation then focused on Tan, who was arrested subsequently.
The United Nations and various rights organizations argue that capital punishment lacks a proven deterrent effect and advocate for its abolition. Nevertheless, Singaporean officials argue that the death penalty has significantly contributed to making the country one of the safest in Asia.