TKI on death row for drug trafficking

TKI on death row for drug trafficking

KUALA LUMPUR: A Malaysian court on Tuesday sentenced an Indonesian laborer (TKI) to death by hanging for trafficking marijuana.

Ruslan Bendadeh, 28, was convicted of trying to distribute 436.2 grams of marijuana on Nov. 8, 2000, at a food outlet in Penang, a resort island 300 kilometers north of Kuala Lumpur.

High Court Commissioner Su Geok Yiam said she could not impose a lighter sentence because the death penalty was mandatory for the offense, Bernama reported.

However, Su allowed the sentence to be put on hold because Ruslan plans to appeal.

No other details of the case were immediately available.

Malaysia has tough anti-drug laws. More than 200 people have been hanged in this Southeast Asian country since the death penalty was introduced in 1975 for drug trafficking.