Iranian Woman Sent To The Gallows For Drug Trafficking

SHAH ALAM (Selangor, Malaysia), March 19 (Bernama) -- An Iranian woman was sent to the gallows by the High Court here on Monday, after she was found guilty of trafficking 1,760gm of methamphetamine at the KL International Airport two years ago. Judge Noor Azian Shaari passed the sentence after the prosecution managed to prove their case against Kobra Taba Seidali, 49, beyond any reasonable doubt. In her judgement, Noor Azian said Kobra and her brother, Jalil, were charged with and tried of the same offence. However, at the end of the prosecution's case, the court ordered Kobra to enter defence, but freed Jalil from the charge after the prosecution failed to prove a prima facie case against him. Noor Azian said Kobra, in her defence, claimed that the drugs found hidden in her luggage were placed there by Jalil's wife, Mariam, at the Damascus Airport in Syria and that she did not know anything about it. "In this case, the accused's defence are unreasonable, unbelievable and failed to raise a reasonable doubt on the prosecution's case. Thus, the court finds the accused guilty and sentences her to death," Noor Azian said. Kobra committed the offence at the baggage claim area at the Arrival Hall of the KLIA at 10.45pm on Feb 2, 2010. She was charged under Section 39B (1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 which carries a mandatory death penalty upon conviction. Deputy public prosecutor Wan Zuraida Wan Nawan appeared for the prosecution, while Kobra was represented by Salim Bashir. Throughout the trial, the prosecution called 10 witnesses, while the defence called one. -- BERNAMA