[Pmeidstc]

Published: Monday March 19, 2012 MYT 7:12:00 PM

Iranian woman gets death for trafficking in 1.76kg of syabu

SHAH ALAM: An Iranian woman was sent to the gallows by the High Court here for trafficking in 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.

Noor Azian said Kobra and her brother, Jalil, were charged with and tried for 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.

Throughout the trial, the prosecution called 10 witnesses, while the defence called one. BERNAMA