Singapore denies Israeli delegation meeting over death penalty

Minister K. Shanmugam has firmly rejected claims published by Israeli daily Haaretz that a covert Israeli delegation travelled to Singapore in May to discuss the death penalty with government officials.

The Israeli newspaper had reported that the secret visit took place, but Shanmugam's denial suggests no such meeting occurred. The minister, who oversees both law and foreign affairs in Singapore's cabinet, did not elaborate further on the specifics of the purported delegation or the circumstances surrounding the report.

Singapore maintains capital punishment for drug trafficking, murder, and treason offences, making it one of the few developed nations to retain the death penalty. The city-state has faced periodic international scrutiny over its use of capital punishment, particularly in high-profile drug trafficking cases.

The Haaretz report, if accurate, would have represented an unusual diplomatic engagement between Singapore and Israel on the sensitive issue of criminal justice policy. Shanmugam's statement effectively closes the chapter on the matter, with no further comment expected from Singapore's government.