[snova]

British woman and M'sian husband face death penalty

Daily Mail
Published Dec 23 201

A British woman, the daughter of a British nuclear physicist and her Malaysian husband have been charged with trafficking and possession of drugs worth more than RM75,000 and face the death penalty if convicted.

Shivaun Orton, 41, and Abdul Harris Fadilah, 46, who have been married for 20 years, and had been operating RM62-a-night backpacker chalets in Cherating, Pahang, were charged on Wednesday under the Dangerous Drugs Act.


Shivaun Orton and her husband Abdul Harris Fadilah being brought to court
Police found heroin and ecstasy worth more than RM75,000 from their house in Kemaman, Terengganu, about 20km away, during a raid two weeks ago. The case has been scheduled for hearing on January 26.

AFP quoted Terengganu police anti-narcotics chief Roslan Abdul Wahid as saying Shivaun faces five drug charges while her husband faces four.

"They face individual charges of drug trafficking and also a joint charge of illegally possessing five cannabis plants," he said.

"They have been denied bail as trafficking and possessing so much drugs is a capital offence," Roslan said, adding that "if found guilty, the two will face the death penalty, which in Malaysia is by hanging."

The chalets are also under investigation as a location where drugs could have been sold to customers.

Shivaun is the daughter of prominent British nuclear physicist Mike Orton, who died of cancer in April last year. She grew up in the Welsh coastal town of Harlech.

It is understood that Mike Orton and his wife, Shirley, 67, were estranged from their daughter.

The British High Commission in Kuala Lumpur confirmed that Orton had been charged under Malaysia's Dangerous Drugs Act.

"Our High Commission is providing consular assistance and a member of the High Commission staff has visited her," it said.

"We are also in close touch with the British national's family and are providing them with consular assistance."