TUESDAY-4TH DECEMBER 2007-MALAYSIAN WOMAN FACING DEATH IN CHINA FOR SMUGGLING DRUGS

Malaysian woman facing death in China for smuggling drugs
PASIR PUTEH:
A 24-year-old woman from Kelantan—Umi Azlim Mohamad Lazim — has been sentenced to death by the Guangzhou High Court in China for trafficking in 2,983 grammes of heroin.
Her mother, Umi Slaia Ibrahim, 45, said the fàmily who did not get any news from her for one year and were shocked to receive a letter dated July 12 from Wisma Putra that her daughter was being held in China since Jan 19. She was sentened to death on May 15 and has two years from the date of conviction to lodge an appeal.
“We did not hear from her for months and suddenly we received news that she was held in China and has been sentenced to death. This is so distressing.
“I was told the drugs were received in Bangkok and to be given to a Nigerian known as “UG’ on her arrival at Shantou,” Umi Slaia said at her home at Kampung Tok Kamis yesterday.
The drugs were found hidden in her luggage on arrival at Shantou. Umi Azilim is a Universiti Malaysia Sabah graduate and said to have been working for a company selling foot massage equipment owned by one “Datuk Anas” in Kuala Lumpur.
Her mother said that because Umi Azlim was fluent in English, the company sent her to do business overseas. “Umi Azlim used to call home regularly but the calls stopped in January,” she said.
Umi Slaia said that based on testimonies by UmiAzlim and other witnesses and letters produced in court, she was convinced that her daughter had been tricked by the Nigerian.
Another Malaysian, Raja Munirah Raja Iskandar, 22, is being held at Tokyo’s Kosuke detention centre also for drhug smuggling. - Bernama