THAI WOMAN TO DIE FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING

KOTA BAHARU (Malaysia), Aug 20 (Bernama) -- A Thai woman was ordered sent to
the gallows by the High Court in this east coast city Thursday after she was
found guilty of trafficking in 865.8gm cannabis six years ago.

Justice Sulaiman Daud handed down the sentence after finding that the
prosecution had proven the charge of trafficking beyond any reasonable doubts
against Rosmawati Che Ngah.

Rosmawati, 31, from Sungai Golok, South Thailand looked calm when Sulaiman
handed down the sentence, but her relatives and friends, who were in the public
gallery, began to shed tears and then went to hug the single mother of two
children, aged 13 and 11.

Rosmawati was charged with trafficking the drug in front of a bank 12.15pm
on Jan 31, 2003.

In mitigation, Rosmawati, who was represented by lawyer Nik Mohd Radhia Nik
Abd Ghani, said it was her first offence.

Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Rehan Mohd Aris prosecuted.

On Feb 15, 2002, the same court had sentenced her to 14 years jail after she
pleaded guilty to an amended charge for drug possession, but the Court of Appeal
ordered a re-trial of the case for a drug trafficking charge following an appeal
by the prosecution.
-- BERNAMA