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. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth