01 June 2009 :

a British citizen sentenced to death for drugs trafficking in China is to plead his case at an appeal court. Akmal Shaikh was arrested on September 12, 2007, in Urumqi, north-west China. He told officials he had no knowledge of the drugs he was discovered with, but was found guilty and sentenced on the same day in October 2008. The Foreign Office said his appeal is expected on May 26, but it is unclear when the result will be announced.