Iranian Mechanic Gets The Gallows For Trafficking Syabu

SHAH ALAM (Selangor, Malaysia), Jan 31 (Bernama) -- An Iranian mechanic was sentenced to death by the High Court here Tuesday after he was found guilty of trafficking 1.423 kg of syabu, two years ago. Judge Noor Azian Shaari handed down the sentence on Ahmadi Moharam Lotfollah, 23, after she was satisfied that the defence had failed to raise a reasonable doubt on the case against him. The accused was charged with trafficking in 12 packets of the drug weighing 1,149.7 grammes in his suitcase, at Gate 5, Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Arrival Hall at 4 pm on Feb 3 2010. He faced the second count for 274 grammes in the form of 39 capsules, which he had swallowed earlier and then passed out at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital emergency ward toilet, between Feb 3 and 5, 2010. The charges under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 carries the mandatory death sentence, upon conviction. Noor Azian said, during his defence, the accused had mentioned that he had come to Malaysia for a computer business matter on a friend's request. He claimed that upon arrival at the airport, his friend asked him to swallow the capsules and went off to the toilet, at which point Ahmadi was arrested, she said. The judge said she found the testimony about his friend to be an afterthought, considering the fact that it was not raised during the defence. "The defence' evidence did not appear to be logical and it failed to raise a reasonable doubt on the prosecution's case. Therefore, the accused is found guilty and sentenced to the only punishment under the Section, which is death by hanging," she said. Nine prosecution witnesses testified throughout the proceedings while the defence called on just one. DPP Kamalia Yahdi prosecuted and Ahmadi was represented by Richard Ho. -- BERNAMA