TWO INDONESIANS SENTENCED TO DEATH IN MALAYSIA

A court in Kuala Lumpur sentenced two Indonesians to death by hanging
for marijuana dealing on Friday. Drug crimes are punishable by death
in the country.

Mohammad Idris (32) and Zainuddin (40), both from Aceh, were caught
trying to sell marijuana at a kiosk in the city in September last
year. Local police confiscated 5.7 kilograms of marijuana from them.

Both defendants pleaded not guilty in the charges, claiming they were
told by a man call Yan to deliver a bag to the kiosk, and denied
knowing what was inside the bag.

The court, however, rejected their defense, saying the defendants were
never able to bring Teungku Yan forward as a witness.

According to Sabri, Zainuddin's younger brother, Malaysian police had
previously jailed his brother on marijuana possession charges in 1993.

"I am hoping for the government's help so my brother can have his
penalty reduced," he told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.

There are at least 300 Acehnese detained in Malaysia on drug-related
charges. They are either being investigated or awaiting trial.