CAPE TOWN: Malaysia High Court has sentenced a death penalty to 28-year-old South African after being found guilty of smuggling in 1,949 grammes of methamphetamine at the Penang International Airport two years ago.
Deon Jacobus Alfred Cornelius, a security guard from South Africa, committed the offence at the airport customs inspection counter at around 11.40am on Oct 4, 2013.
The offence under section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 carries the mandatory death sentence upon conviction.
In his judgment, Judicial Commissioner Datuk Nordin Hassan ruled the prosecution had succeeded in proving the case beyond a reasonable doubt.
He said the accused should have the awareness to check the laptop bag that was passed to him by his friend known as “Tony” in South Africa.
Nordin said “Tony” handed the bag to the accused to be brought over to someone else in Penang after learning of the latter’s 10-day vacation in the state.
” Both of them had met around three to four times back then in their country, ” he said when delivering his verdict.
The drugs were found in a hidden compartment of the laptop bag.
During mitigation, lawyer Hussaini Abdul Rashid, said the accused has a wife and five-year-old daughter in his home country, and pleaded for leniency.
Tthe accused appeared calm when Nordin handed down his decision.
DPP Zuraidah Zakaria prosecuted the case.
