SHAH ALAM: Two Iranian sisters were sent to the gallows by the High Court here yesterday for trafficking in methamphetamine at the KL International Airport in Sepang two years ago.
Judge Datuk Nurchaya Arshad handed down the sentence after the defence failed to raise a reasonable doubt against the prosecution’s case.
Fatemah Zandiyeh Mohammad, 24, and Tahmineh Zandiyeh Mohammad, 26, appeared calm when the judge read out the sentence, but in the public gallery, their father broke down in tears and almost collapsed.
Fatemah was found guilty of trafficking in 1,489.8gm of methamphetamine, which was found stapped on her waist, at the KLIA’s baggage claim area at about 11.30am on May 5, 2011.
Tahmineh was also found guilty of trafficking in 1,497.9gm of the same drugs using the same method and on the same day at the same time and place.
They were charged under Section 39B (1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 which carries a mandatory death penalty upon conviction.
The prosecution called eight witnesses throughout the trial and the defence two.
Deputy public prosecutor Zainal Azwar Kamaruddin appeared for the prosecution, while the two sisters were represented by lawyers Datuk N.Sivananthan and R.Vinothini. — Bernama