Two Thai drug defendants on trial

MEDAN, North Sumatra: The Medan District Court is reviewing the verdicts handed down to two Thai nationals, 54-year-old Saelow Prasert and 25-year-old Namsong Sirilak, who are on death row for smuggling 12.5 kilograms of heroin.

Antara reported that the defendants' legal counsel, Jaffar, said the death penalty rulings handed down by the Supreme Court, the North Sumatra High Court, and the Medan District Court between Dec. 1994 to June 1995 could not be upheld legally.

"The defendants should be acquitted because the prosecutors could not present the 12.5 kg of heroin as evidence during the trials," Jaffar said.

The prosecution had only presented photographs of the heroin, he said. (swe)