Two Thais beg for clemency

MEDAN, North Sumatra: Two Thai women convicted of smuggling 12 kilograms of heroin into the country are hoping for President Soeharto's clemency after their request for a case review was rejected by the Supreme Court last October.

If Soeharto rejects their appeal for clemency, Saelow Prasert, 56, and Namsong Sirilak, 26, will face the death penalty.

Lawyer Ramadhaniel Daulay said the two were not guilty because they did not realize that the black handbag, which they had been carrying at the time of their arrest at Polonia Airport in North Sumatra's capital of Medan, contained narcotics.

"The handbag did not belong to them. It belonged to an Indian business partner, Ayodya Praset Caubey, who is 59 years old," Daulay said as quoted by Antara.

No further information was available about the women's arrest.

"If the President also turns down their appeal for clemency, they will have to be sent to the gallows," he said. (imn)