Two Nepalese sentenced to death over drugs<\/p>\n
TANGERANG (JP): Tangerang District Court sentenced on Thursday
\ntwo Nepalese nationals to death for drug trafficking.<\/p>\n
The men, identified as Til Bahadur Bhandari, 24, and Bahadur
\nGurung, 32, were convicted of smuggling 1.764 kilograms of heroin
\nin 204 capsules in their stomachs.<\/p>\n
In the final hearing presided over by Judge Tufsani Djafri, it
\nwas stated that the men were arrested last July 30 at Soekarno-
\nHatta International Airport.<\/p>\n
\"The airport's customs and excise officials were suspicious of
\nBhandari and Gurung because they were anxious to leave
\nimmediately, while both were sweating profusely and appeared
\npale. The officials apprehended them for drug tests,\" Tufsani
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
They were charged under Narcotics Law No. 22\/1997 which
\ncarries maximum sentences of the death penalty or life
\nimprisonment, and a fine of Rp 1 billion (US$142,860).<\/p>\n
\"Although they have behaved well and shown remorse during the
\ntrial, there are no mitigating circumstances for the two
\ndefendants. They have violated the narcotics law. They
\ncontributed to a crime that is ruining a generation of the
\ncountry,\" Tufsani said.<\/p>\n
The prosecutor earlier demanded 18-year prison terms for the
\nmen, who appeared shocked by the death sentence. They burst into
\ntears and lowered their heads when translator Suherman told them
\nthe verdict.<\/p>\n
Suherman immediately appealed the sentence.<\/p>\n
\"This is inhumane and we certainly are lodging an appeal,\" he
\nsaid. The defendants' lawyer, John Kalangit, did not attend the
\nfinal session.<\/p>\n
The men were arrested shortly after their arrival on SQ-164
\nfrom Bangkok. They swallowed heroin packed in capsules of
\nImmodium, an antidiarrheal medicine.<\/p>\n
Airport officials also found Immodium capsules in their bags,
\nwhich the men said they were taking to treat headaches.<\/p>\n
Laboratory tests of their urine samples revealed the presence
\nof heroin.<\/p>\n
They were later taken to Kramatjati Police Hospital where the
\nrest of the drug was discharged.<\/p>\n
Thursday's death sentence was the second to be imposed on drug
\ndefendants this year. Tangerang District Court sentenced in
\nJanuary two Nepalese to death for a drug trafficking offense also
\ncommitted in July last year.<\/p>\n
Nar Bahadur Tamang, 59, and Bala Tamang, 30, were convicted of
\nattempting to smuggle 554 grams of heroin into the country.<\/p>\n
In the final hearing with Judge Satria Us Gumai presiding, it
\nwas asserted that the two defendants swallowed a total of 73
\ncapsules of Immodium packed with heroin. (41\/edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/two-nepalese-sentenced-to-death-over-drugs-1447893297",
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