Reuters Photo: File photo shows Kim Nguyen, mother of convicted Australian drug trafficker Nguyen Tuong Van, after..

Fri Oct 21, 6:05 AM ET

Nguyen Tuong Van, 25, was sentenced to death in March 2004 after being convicted for smuggling almost 400 grams (0.9 lb) of heroin from Vietnam. He was arrested at Singapore's Changi Airport in December 2002, where he was in transit for Australia.

Downer, Prime Minister John Howard and Governor-General Michael Jeffery had all pleaded for clemency for Nguyen, who will become the first Australian to be executed for drugs charges in Southeast Asia since 1993.

"We are very sad that this has happened. We have done our best, we have done everything we can to save his life," Downer told reporters in Adelaide. "The execution is expected to be carried out fairly quickly, which is the custom in Singapore."

Australia is a staunch opponent of the death penalty but Singapore, known for its tough stand against crime, mandates the death penalty for murder and drug trafficking.

Nguyen's Melbourne-based lawyer Lex Lasry said the Singapore decision was devastating for Nguyen, his family and "anyone who values humane treatment of their fellow human beings."

"Death by hanging is hideous. Further, it is grossly out of proportion to the crime committed," he said in a statement, adding that Nguyen had admitted his guilt and cooperated with authorities.

"We call on the Singapore government to reverse this decision. We make this call in the name of fairness and justice."

But Downer said there was little more Australia could do.

"This was a decision made by the Singapore Cabinet and the President, consistent with the laws and constitution of Singapore," Downer said.

Two other Australians, Mai Cong Thanh, 46, and Nguyen Van Chinh, 45, remain on death row in Vietnam after being convicted for drug smuggling.

In 1986, Malaysia executed Australian drug smugglers Kevin Barlow and Brian Chambers by hanging in a high-profile case that sparked a major diplomatic row after then Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke described the death sentence as "barbaric."

The last Australian to be executed in Southeast Asia was Michael McAuliffe, who went to the gallows in Malaysia in 1993 for drug trafficking.

Nguyen Tuong Van Case Page & Petition

A 25-year-old Australian drug trafficker will be hanged after the Singaporean Government rejected pleas for clemency.

The Prime Minister, John Howard, and the Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell, unsuccessfully made representations for the death penalty, imposed after Nguyen Tuong Van was found guilty of carrying nearly 400 grams of heroin, to be lifted on compassionate grounds.

Nguyen, a salesman and former boy scout who lived in Melbourne, was arrested while in transit at Singapore's Changi Airport. He said later that he was carrying the heroin to help pay debts of his drug-addicted twin brother.

"He will be hanged as a result of this decision," the Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, said yesterday. "There is no further appeal."

"We have done everything that we could have done," Mr Howard said. " I'm sorry, but this is a sovereign foreign country enforcing to the full the laws plainly known and understood throughout the region. … I am sorry about that because we do not support the death penalty and this man is an Australian citizen.

"It's a terrible reminder of the consequences of taking and dealing in drugs in Asian countries."

The Opposition Foreign Affairs spokesman, Kevin Rudd, pleaded for Nguyen not to be sent to the gallows.

"We appeal to the individual members of the Singaporean cabinet to find it in their hearts to save this man's life," he said.

"While drug trafficking is a very serious crime, and we respect Singapore's right to protect its citizens from such crimes, we do not believe that putting a young man to death in these circumstances serves any purpose.

"This is a truly tragic case and our hearts go out to this young Australian and his poor mother in Melbourne."

Hopes were raised that Nguyen would be spared after he co-operated with police. Australian Federal Police interviewed Nguyen in jail and he reportedly gave them detailed information about the Sydney drugs syndicate involved.

Amnesty International believes more than 400 people have been executed in Singapore since 1991. Singapore's Think Centre said that in the past five years 101 Singaporeans and 37 foreigners had been executed - 110 for drug-related offences and 28 for murder and arms-related offences.

Under Singapore's drug laws, the death sentence is mandatory upon conviction of anyone aged over 18 for possession of 15 grams or more of heroin. However, the president may grant clemency.

Singapore's constitution allows for a pardon if an accused furnishes information that leads to the arrest of key figures.

Nguyen's Melbourne barrister, Lex Lasry, QC, said last night he was devastated by the decision to hang his client. "He will now be executed - I don't know when," Mr Lasry told the Herald.

Asked if there was anything more that could be done, Mr Lasry said, "No, probably not."

Mr Lasry said earlier this year that Nguyen's identification of those who arranged the smuggling operation had shown his "contrition and rehabilitation".

A plea for presidential clemency for Melbourne man Nguyen Tuong Van has been turned down in Singapore.

Nguyen was caught in Singapore trying to smuggle almost 400 grams of heroin from Cambodia to Australia three years ago.

The Australian Government had appealed for clemency for Nguyen, who has been on death row in Changi prison since being sentenced in March last year.

He now faces execution, possibly within 10 days.

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said Australia had done it's utmost to save Nguyen's life.

"We are very sad that this has happened," Mr Downer said.

"We have done our best, we have done everything we can to save his life."

Nguyen's Australian lawyers described the decision as "devastating for him, his family and friends".

Lex Lasry QC said Nguyen had always admitted his guilt and given constructive help to authorities including the Australian Federal Police.

"The decision appears to pay no heed to the provisions of the Singapore Constitution that make specific reference and provide for clemency to those who assist the authorities with information which can be used to prosecute others," he said.

Mr Lasry called on the Singapore Government to reverse its decision.

Nguyen was sentenced to death last year after being found guilty by a Singapore court of smuggling almost 400 grams of heroin from Cambodia via Singapore.

He was found to have 396 grams of heroin strapped to his back and also in his hand luggage.

Nguyen said he had the drugs because he was trying to raise money to clear debts incurred by his twin brother.

Mr Downer said Australia had pleaded for clemency via Prime Minister John Howard, Governor General Michael Jeffery and himself.

Nguyen is set to become the fourth Australian sentenced to death by Asian countries on drug charges, following the hanging of Brian Chambers and Kevin Barlow in Malaysia in 1986.

In a lesser-known case, Queenslander Michael McAuliffe died by hanging in Malaysia in June 1993 after serving eight years in jail.

In Singapore, the death sentence is mandatory for drug smuggling and more than 400 people have been executed there in the past 10 years.

Australia's Council for Civil Liberties says Singapore executes more people per capita than any other country in the world.

Two other Australians are currently facing the death penalty after being convicted of heroin-related charges - both in Vietnam.

Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd called on the Singaporean cabinet to reconsider its position.

"Singapore law provides for mercy to be sought and we strongly believe that mercy should be applied in the case of this young Australian," he said in a statement.

"We appeal to the individual members of the Singaporean cabinet to find it in their hearts to save this man's life.

"While drug trafficking is a very serious crime and we respect Singapore's right to protect its citizens from such crimes, we do not believe that putting a young man to death in these circumstances serves any purpose."

Mr Rudd expressed his sympathy to Nguyen's family.

"This is a truly tragic case and our hearts go out to this young Australian and his poor mother in Melbourne," he said.

"We will do everything in our power to ask the Singaporean government to reconsider this decision."

Nguyen's mother fled Vietnam alone in a boat in 1980 and had her twin sons in a transit camp in Malaysia before being accepted into Australia four months later.

Nguyen Tuong Van, 25, will be hanged, possibly within weeks, after being sentenced to death by a Singapore court in March last year.

Nguyen was found guilty of smuggling almost 400 grams of heroin from Cambodia via Singapore.

"We have done everything that we could have done," Mr Howard said.

"I'm sorry, but this is a sovereign foreign country enforcing to the full the laws plainly known and understood throughout the region."

The sales executive was caught in transit at Singapore's Changi Airport in December 2002, bound for Melbourne.

He had 396 grams of heroin strapped to his back and in hand luggage.

Mr Howard said he was very sorry the death penalty would be enforced.

The Prime Minister said he had made personal appeals for clemency on Van's behalf to Singapore's prime minister and president.

"It was made very clear to me when I saw the Singapore prime minister at the beginning of this year when I raised this matter in my meeting that the Singaporeans take a very tough line on drugs," Mr Howard said.

"I hoped we might be able to obtain a remission of the death penalty on this occasion, but consistent with their very strong position, they have rejected that."

As well as the prime minister, Australia's Governor General Michael Jeffery and Foreign Minister Alexander Downer made representations to the Singaporeans on Van's behalf for clemency.

"Unfortunately the Singapore government has decided to go ahead with the execution," said Mr Howard.

"I am sorry about that because we do not support the death penalty and this man is an Australian citizen.

"It's a sad thing for his family. It's a terrible reminder of the consequences of taking and dealing in drugs in Asian countries."