INDIAN TRADER SENT TO THE GALLOWS FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING

SHAH ALAM (Malaysia) April 25 (Bernama) -- The High Court here Monday
sentenced an Indian national to death after he was found guilty of trafficking
in 3.9kg of ketamine at the KL International Airport (KLIA) in Sepang two years
ago.

Justice Siti Mariah Ahmad handed down the sentence on Samad Mohamad
Sulthan, 44, a trader, after finding that the prosecution had succeeded in
proving the case against the accused.

Samad was charged with trafficking in the drugs at the arrival hall of the
KLIA at 9.35pm on Feb 25, 2009.

The drug was found in a jewellery box in a box which Samad was carrying.

In her judgment, Siti Mariah said that in his defence, Samad had told the
court that he received an order from a Malaysian trader by the name of Jaafar to
send some goods from India to Malaysia.


However, she said, the defence had failed to call Jaafar to testify.

She also said that Samad claimed that he met a friend by the name of Ismail
in Mumbai to get the goods ordered by Jaafar, but was informed that the goods
were not available.

As a result, Samad wanted to cancel his flight to Malaysia, but was advised
against doing so by Ismail, who told him to go ahead with the trip to Malaysia
to send some goods for which he would be paid RM500.

On Feb 25, 2009, Samad claimed he met Ismail in Mumbai to take the goods he
was to deliver in Malaysia, but did not inspect what the goods were.

Siti Mariah said she found it illogical for Samad, as a businessman, to
purchase a ticket on Feb 24, 2009, for a next day flight without knowing the
goods he was to deliver nor the person to receive them.


"The court finds that the goods ordered by Jaafar is merely fictitious," she
added.

She said other defence submitted by the accused were also fictitious.