Pubdate: Fri, 18 Jan 2002
Source: Straits Times (Singapore)
Copyright: 2002 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd.
Contact:  http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/429
Author: Star/AsiaNews Network

S'POREAN TO HANG FOR SMUGGLING ECSTASY

He Is The First To Be Sentenced To Death In Malaysia For Trafficking In 
Ecstasy Since The Dangerous Drugs Act Was Amended

PENANG - A 33-year-old Singaporean man yesterday became the first person to 
be sentenced to death in Malaysia for trafficking in Ecstasy pills since 
the Dangerous Drugs Act was amended in 1998.

Koh Tiong Hock was found guilty by a High Court of trafficking in 7,468 
pills containing 801.7 g of methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) at 
Departure Gate Six of the Penang International Airport in Bayan Lepas here 
on July 21, 2000.

Koh, who had remained expressionless throughout most of the trial, appeared 
to be holding back tears as the interpreter explained to him in Mandarin 
the court's finding.

Justice Mohamed Raus Sharif said the court had to convict Koh as he had 
failed to raise any reasonable doubt on the prosecution's case against him.

'Drug trafficking is punishable with only one sentence, and that sentence 
is death. You, Koh Tiong Hock, will be taken to prison and then to a place 
where you will be hanged to death,' he said, adding that the Singaporean 
had the right to appeal.

After the court adjourned, Koh smiled with appeared relief when he realised 
he could file an appeal immediately before leaving the courtroom.

He was clad in a pair of jeans and a long-sleeve white shirt that hid the 
tattoos all over his back and arms.

He did not have any relatives or friends in Penang. His only family was a 
sister and mother who is too ill to make the trip here.

In his submission earlier, court-appointed counsel T. Jegadeeson said a 
videotape, which showed Koh with the packets of pills strapped to his body, 
should not have been viewed by the court.

He said the videotape amounted to a confession, and the court should have 
ordered a trial-within-a-trial to determine its admissibility before 
allowing it to be screened.

In his judgment, the High Court Justice said he found Koh's defence 
difficult to believe: 'I cannot accept his defence that two men had 
forcefully strapped the eight packets of pills to his body to be taken to 
New Zealand, and that he did not know the contents of the packets.'

Drug trafficking carries a mandatory death sentence upon conviction.
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MAP posted-by: Beth