China postpones execution of Thai

China postpones execution of Thai

BANGKOK (DPA): China has postponed the execution of a Thai national convicted of smuggling 1.5 tons of marijuana into the country, news reports in Bangkok said on Tuesday.

The Supreme Court of Guangdong province in southern China decided on Monday to postpone the execution of Preecha Saengthong, 42, one of seven people found guilty of trying to smuggle marijuana into the country in 1994, said the Bangkok Post, quoting Thai officials.

The officials said the postponement was believed to be in response to a Thai request for leniency in the case.

Preecha, who was scheduled to die on Wednesday, would have been the first Thai to be executed in China.