MALAYSIA: TWO IRANIAN MEN SENTENCED TO DEATH

July 24, 2012: two Iranian men were sentenced to death by the High Court, in Malaysia, after they were found guilty of trafficking in methamphetamine, strapped to their legs, via the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in Sepang,. Judge Datuk Ahmadi Asnawi concluded that Ali Jalayeridarbandi Mousa, 26, and Vahid Aliakbarsadeghabadi Abbas, 29, failed to raise reasonable doubt against the case against them. He further found that testimonies by witnesses did not corroborate their defense that the drugs were for personal use. "Therefore, there's only one sentence which can be meted out for this offence, that is, the mandatory death penalty," he said. Ali, a cobbler, and Vahid, an engineer, were each caught trafficking 203.9g and 269.6g of methamphetamine at the arrival hall of the main KLIA terminal, about 3.45 pm on Dec 12, 2010. There were charged under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 which carries the mandatory death penalty. (Sources: Bernama, 24/07/2012)