GERMAN ESCAPES GALLOWS BUT FACES LONG JAIL TERM OVER DRUG CHARGE

SINGAPORE: A German woman suspected of drug trafficking in Singapore
escaped hanging and was granted bail yesterday after banned substances
found in her flat fell below the minimum needed to impose the death
penalty. But Julia Suzanne Bohl, 23, is facing the grim prospect of a long
prison term after prosecutors brought additional cases against her, ranging
from peddling cannabis to allowing drug-taking in her apartment.

Laboratory tests showed the amounts of various drugs seized in a raid on
her apartment were not enough to warrant a death sentence.

Bohl and three Singaporeans were arrested on March 13 for possession of
marijuana (cannabis), along with synthetic drugs like methamphetamine and
ketamine as well as drug-taking paraphernalia.

"We got the scientific report that has just been served on us that shows
that the amount is less than 500gm of cannabis," her lawyer Subhas Anandan
said.

Under Singapore's Misuse of Drugs Act, anyone convicted of possessing a
certain amount of a specified drug - 500gm in the case of cannabis - can be
sentenced to death for trafficking.

The other drugs seized from Bohl's apartment also fell below the cut-off
level for capital punishment. Executions are carried out by hanging in
Singapore.

Anandan said that as a result, the death penalty cannot be imposed even if
she is charged with trafficking. Bohl now faces three trafficking charges
and 11 other drug-related offences.

In a statement, Singapore's Central Narcotics Bureau said tests showed the
substances seized contained 281.6gm of cannabis and 382.2gm of cannabis
mixture.

Trafficking in either substance is punishable by a minimum of five years in
jail and five strokes of the cane, but women are exempt from caning under
Singapore law. The maximum is 20 years' jail and 15 strokes of the cane.

Bohl, who has been living for five years in Singapore after having studied
in the city-state, appeared in handcuffs at a downtown courthouse. She was
wearing a pink sleeveless shirt, her hair tied in a ponytail.

Anandan said Bohl will plead innocent to the charges of trafficking and
claim trial.

Judge Victor Yeo impounded Bohl's passport. "