Nigerian woman gets 12 years in prison for drugs

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SHAH ALAM: The High Court here sentenced a Nigerian woman to 12 years in prison after she pleaded guilty to possessing 2.236 kilogrammes of methamphetamine at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), in February last year.

Judge Datuk Abdul Rahman Sebli ordered Okpaladim Tina Ovoke, 31, to serve the sentence from the date of her arrest, Feb 17 2011.

In his judgement, Abdul Rahman said the sentence took into consideration the amount of drugs involved, the frequency of such cases which could not be taken lightly and to safeguard the public.

Tina committed the offence at the Level 3 baggage claim area of the airport and was initially charged under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 which carries the mandatory death sentence upon conviction.

The prosecution later offered her an alternative charge under Section 39A (2) of the same Act, which is punishable between five years and life imprisonment. –Bernama