ANKARA 

A Singapore court on Thursday stayed the execution of a death-row Malaysian citizen, local media reported.

P. Pannir Selvam, 32, was due to be executed in Changi Prison on Friday.

He was convicted in 2017 for drug trafficking after more than 51 kilograms (114 pounds) of heroine were recovered from him.

However, Singapore's Court of Appeal stayed the execution after Selvam filed an appeal.

“The court has just granted stay. Execution will not take place,” defense lawyer N. Surendran told Star online.

Earlier, Singapore President Halimah Yacob had rejected a similar mercy appeal from Selvam's family.