KUALA LUMPUR: An Indonesian man was sentenced to death by the High Court on Wednesday after he was found guilty of drug trafficking in a case that lasted five years. Judicial Commissioner Mohd Zaki Abdul Wahab made the ruling against Ilham Saputra Zainal Abidin, 32, after he was “satisfied with the prosecution's testimonies which proved the case beyond reasonable doubt.” Saputra, who worked as a fish seller, was accused of trafficking some 95 grams of methamphetamine near the perimeter fence of Hamagawa Sdn Bhd, Jalan Bakar Arang, Sungai Petani in 2007. “From the prosecution's evidence, prosecution witness SP4 had discussed with the accused over the phone on the sale and purchase of the dangerous drug and they fixed the time and place for them to meet. “The accused appeared following the discussion and when he was arrested, the drug was with him and he was aware that the bag he carried contained the drug,” said the judge. International and local rights groups have urged Indonesia to end the death penalty in drug cases, and a recent report in the country suggested that capital punishment is not a deterrent in drug offenses, but Jakarta has thus far been unwilling to end its use of the death penalty for drug-related crimes.
