Tochi Is Dead, Hung In Singapore.

Iwuchukwu Amara Tochi (born in 1987?) is a Nigerian national convicted of drug trafficking in Singapore. Drug trafficking carries a mandatory death sentence under Singapore's Misuse of Drugs Act, and despite pleas for clemency from the Amnesty International as well as other individuals and groups, he is scheduled to be executed by hanging on January 26, 2007.


Iwuchukwu Amara Tochi was born in Nigeria. He was given to his relatives at the age of 5. He grew up and attended St. Anthony's Mission School in Ohafia, Abia State. In an interview with his lawyer, he stated that his brother dropped out of school to support his father. His mother died a couple of years later.

Having a passion for football, he joined a football club in Senegal and subsequently played for Nigeria in the West African Coca-Cola Cup Championships when he was 14.[1]

Later, he sought to travel to Dubai to pursue his football career. According to an interview with his laywer, he traveled to Pakistan to secure a visa before going to Dubai as he was under the impression that a train service travels there, only to find out that it is non-existent.

He then sought help from St. Andrew's Church in Islamabad in which provided him refuge. One Sunday, however he met a man known as "Mr. Smith" claiming to be a distant friend. Tochi claimed Mr. Smith gave him pocket money and food and offered to help Tochi obtain a visa in Dubai. However Tochi could not obtain the visa because he did not meet the appropriate requirements.

Mr. Smith then asked Tochi for a favour. He wanted him to deliver medicine for a sick friend in Singapore, saying that his friend would meet Tochi at Changi Airport and collect the medicine. (The interview transcript can be found here[2].)


[edit] Arrest
Tochi was arrested on 28 November 2004 in Changi Airport in Singapore while in transit. Authorities became suspicious after discovering he had spent more the 24 hours in transit. 100 capsules of diamorphine were found on him with a total weight of 727.02 grams. Tochi claimed that the capsules he carried were for a friend and insisted they were African herbs that tasted like chocolate. He swallowed a capsule to prove this, and police took him to a local hospital where he was given a laxative to flush the capsule out of his system.[1]

His arrest led to the arrest of another African drug figure, Okele Nelson Malachy, whom he claimed was his accomplice. Tochi was waiting for Malachy to arrive from Medan, Indonesia, but Malachy's flight had been delayed.[1]

Malachy denied being part of the conspiracy to import drugs, saying he came to Singapore to look for a second-hand car for use in South Africa.[2] He claimed to be in the garment wholesale business, however he did not have any business cards on him at the time of his arrest.[2] He carried a South African passport, but officials believed he was Nigerian.[3] Malachy has been subsequently classified as stateless by the officials.[2][3]

Malachy's cellphone records and SIM card showed communication between him and "Mr. Smith", shortly after Malachy's plane from Medan landed at Changi Airport.[2] Smith's cellphone number was stored in Malachy's SIM card under the name "Dogo", another of Smith's aliases, according to Tochi. The actual identity and whereabouts of "Mr. Smith" remains unknown.[2]

Immediately after the arrest, Tochi phoned his brother for help. His brother has not informed their parents as he fears that might add more burden to them[3].


[edit] Trial
During the trial one of the judges, Kan Ting Chiu delivered a dissenting opinion. In his judgement he wrote "There was no direct evidence that [Amara Tochi] knew the capsules contained diamorphine. There was nothing to suggest that Smith had told him they contained diamorhine, or that he had found that out of his own." paragraph 42 SGHC 233.

Nonetheless, the judges added that "Tochi should have known and therefore he is guilty". Both Tochi and Malachy have been sentenced to death.[4]


[edit] Appeals
On 16th March 2006, the Court of Appeal has upheld their sentences. The President has dismissed Tochi's appeal.

A letter has been sent to his lawyer confirming Amara Tochi's scheduled execution on the 26th January 2007. Additional visits for the condemned man will be allowed from the 23th - 25th January. [5]

Tochi's lawyer is M. Ravi, a human rights lawyer and a member of the Singapore Democratic Party.[3] Ravi has launched an appeal to the international community, visiting countries in Europe and Africa including Nigeria and Germany for support.

Some activitist including members of the Singapore Democratic Party are going on a hunger strike to protest his execution, on grounds that he is completely innocent.

Naija man hung in Singapore !!