Malaysian court frees two RI workers facing death sentence

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta, Thursday January 23 2014


A judge at the Putrajaya Higher Court in Malaysia has released two Indonesian workers that were facing the death penalty for possessing drugs, according to a statement from the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur.

Azhar bin Zakaria and Ismail bin Ibrahim were caught by Malaysian police officers in May 2012. Both were detained after police found 20 kilograms of cannabis in the trunk of a car used by Azhar and Ibrahim, according to a statement received by Antara news agency on Wednesday.

In a previous trial at the Malaysian High Court, both defendants were sentenced to death for drug possession. The defendants then appealed to the Higher Court, arguing that there was different versions of the arrest process between the police and the defendants.

The defendants' lawyer added that during the previous trial, the prosecutor had failed to show physical evidence in the case, namely the car used by the defendants during the time of the arrest.

Considering the lawyer's argument, the Putrajaya Higher Court judge ruled the case against Azhar and Ibrahim could not proceed due to a lack of evidence.

Responding to the dismissal of the death sentence, the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur is repatriating both workers.

To date, 167 Indonesians previously facing the death sentence in Malaysia have been freed while another 181 are awaiting legal proceedings in their cases.



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