Nigerian Sentenced to Death For Drug Trafficking in Malaysia

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A Malaysian court on Sunday sentenced a Nigerian man to death after convicting him of trafficking more than 14 kilos (31 pounds) of marijuana over the land border with Thailand, a report said. The court said there was little doubt Moses Chinedu Nwosu, 50, was guilty of the crime — punishable with death by hanging — after the drugs were seized from him on the night of March 25 last year, Bernama news agency said.

The man's lawyer could not be reached for comment. The accused testified the drugs carried in a black bag belonged to another man he was travelling with from the Thai border to the northern Malaysian town of Alor Setar, Bernama said citing the judgment. "However, according to a witness, Moses was seen carrying the black bag… and its key was found in his pocket," the judge said.

The court decision is the latest in a clampdown by Malaysian authorities on alleged foreign drug traffickers.
A Kuala Lumpur court charged 10 Iranians, an Uzbek and a local with trafficking methamphetamine last week. An Australian nurse and Nigerian man were also charged with trafficking drugs last month, a case which has attracted media attention worldwide.

Since 1960, more than 440 people have been executed in Malaysia, including two Australians sentenced to death in 1986 for heroin trafficking — the first Westerners to be executed under tough anti-drug laws.


AFP