SINGAPORE, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Singapore has sacked its
long-serving hangman, less than a week before the scheduled
execution of an Australian drug smuggler, after his identity and
picture was exposed by media.
"They called me a few days ago and said I don't have to hang Nguyen
and that I don't have to work anymore," Chief executioner Darshan
Singh told Reuters on Sunday.
"I think they (the prison authorities) must be mad after seeing my
pictures in the newspapers," Singh said.
Australia's Sunday Telegraph said a new executioner was expected to
be flown into Singapore this week to carry out the Dec. 2 hanging
of 25-year-old Nguyen Tuong Van, who was sentenced to death for
carrying 400 grams (0.9 lb) of heroin while in transit at the
island-nation's airport.
