SINGAPORE : Singapore will not review the death sentence for Nigerian Iwuchukwu Amara Tochi who was caught for importing over 700 grammes of diamorphine into Singapore in 2004.

In a letter, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong assured Nigeria's President, Olusegun Obasanjo, that all factors relevant to the case had been considered.

These include the petition for clemency made to President SR Nathan by Nigeria's Acting High Commissioner Dr Ozichi Joel Alimole, and a recent letter from the Nigerian President requesting Singapore to review the sentence.

Mr Lee said the amount of illegal drugs brought in by Mr Tochi amounts to more than 48,000 doses of heroin on the streets - enough to destroy many lives and families.

He said he also realises that Mr Tochi's family will find Singapore's position difficult to accept.

But the government has a duty to safeguard the interests of Singaporeans, and protect lives that would otherwise be ruined by drug syndicates. - CNA/ms