Malaysia sentences Indonesian woman to hang for drug trafficking

Dec 24, 2010, 2:36 GMT

Kuala Lumpur - A Malaysian court has sentenced a 47-year old Indonesian woman to hang for drug trafficking, a news report said Friday.

Nenggani Asmo, who runs a boutique in Jogjakarta, was arrested on March 17 last year at Kuala Lumpur International Airport after arriving from Bangkok, according to The Star English daily.

Authorities found 616.5 gram of heroin and 48.6 gram of morphine hidden in her girdle.

Judge Badariah Sahamid rejected her claims that the drugs were given to her by an African man in Bangkok to be delivered to Jogjakarta.

'When questioned, the accused failed to provide a detailed description of the African,' Badariah said.

The accused, she added, had knowledge and exclusive custody of the drugs because she had worn the girdle for several hours before she was arrested.

'Therefore, I find the accused guilty as charged and sentence her to death by hanging,' the judge said.

Under Malaysia's strict anti-drug laws, anyone found in possession of at least 15 gram of heroin or morphine is deemed to be trafficking, for which the death sentence is mandatory.

Read more about Indonesia

Read more about Malaysia Justice