A mentally disabled man has been executed in Singapore despite appeals for mercy from several high-profile celebrities.
Nagaenthran Dharmalingam, 34, was arrested over a decade ago for trafficking about three tablespoons of heroin into Singapore in 2009.
The city-state, which has some of the toughest drug laws in the world, handed Nagaenthran a mandatory death sentence for his crime.
The 34-year-old prisoner was hanged at Singapore's Changi Prison at 6am (8am AEST) on Wednesday.
Nagaenthran Dharmalingam, 34, (pictured) was arrested over a decade ago for trafficking about three tablespoons of heroin into Singapore in 2009
The 34-year-old prisoner was scheduled to be hanged at Singapore's Changi Prison (pictured in 2005) at 6am (8am AEST) on Wednesday
His case has attracted international attention with supporters' petitioning on the basis his intellectual disability means he struggles to make rational decisions.
They say Nagaenthran has an IQ of 69 - a level recognised as a disability.
Internationally-revered celebrities such as Stephen Fry and Richard Branson have also spoken out against the 'devastating' execution.
'Executing Nagen would be a tragic injustice and a dark stain on Singapore's international reputation,' the Virgin founder told the Sydney Morning Herald.
Just hours before his execution the court gave Nagaenthran permission to hold the hands of his loved ones inside Singapore's Court of Appeal.
He was also granted two hours to spend time with family members in the basement of the court complex.
His mother Panchalai Supermaniam (pictured) launched an unsuccessful last-minute appeal against the execution, the last of a series of appeals rejected by the court
His case has attracted international attention with supporters' petitioning on the basis his intellectual disability means he struggles to make rational decisions
Nagaenthran (pictured, second left with his sister and cousins) was given
