TWO IRANIAN WOMEN FREED OF DRUG TRAFFICKING CHARGE

SHAH ALAM (Malaysia), Sept 29 (Bernama) -- Two Iranian women were acquitted and discharged by the High Court here on a charge with trafficking in 38,957gm of syabu at the KL International Airport without calling for their defence.

Justice Mohtarudin Baki made the order at the end of the
prosecution's case after finding that the prosecution had failed to prove a
prima facie case against Mazieh Azimzadehtabriz, 32, and Hajar Fakri Lasbo, 25.

Mazieh, a physical education instructor, and Hajar, a student, were charged
with trafficking in the drug at the international arrival hall of the airport in
Sepang about 10.40pm last Feb 5.

The offence carries the mandatory death sentence upon conviction.

In his judgment, Mohtarudin said the only evidence which did not favour the
defence was the fact that the two women were carrying the bags in which the drug
was found.

However, he said, the name tags on both the bags did not state the women's
names.

Mohtarudin said the prosecution also failed to link the two women to the
items found in both the bags.

Deputy public prosecutor from the Royal Customs Department Naziah Mokhtar
appeared for the prosecution, while Mazieh and Hajar were represented by Hisyam
Teh Poh Teik.

-- BERNAMA