Vietnam court upholds drug smuggler's death sentence

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Vietnam court upholds drug smuggler's death sentence

Published: 7 Oct 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

Vietnam's Supreme Court has refused to commute the death sentence of a 24-year-old Thai woman who smuggled narcotics into the country, according to the Saigon Daily.

The Supreme People's Court in Ho Chi Minh City has upheld the lower court's death sentence against Preeyanooch Phuttharaksa, the newspaper said on its website.

Preeyanuch was arrested in October of last year after customs officials at Tan Son Nhut Airport found more than three kilogrammes of methamphetamine hidden inside her luggage. Before her arrest, Preeyanuch had sneaked drugs into Vietnam twice, according to the indictment.

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khunbill
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Discussion 38 : 07 Oct 2012 at 14.2238
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felixqui

Think you're getting a little carried away with you analogies and comparisons. Whether you agree or not, alcohol and ice cream are not illegal regardless of their results. Alcohol and ice cream in moderation can be harmless..... never heard of a meth freak using in moderation
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samut
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Discussion 37 : 07 Oct 2012 at 14.2237
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Yes she committed a crime no question but I believe death penalty is just too much; some time (years) in jail should be enough and maybe she could contribute something to society later on. What embarrasses me that in all those countries they never get the big guys only the mules and if this will not change nothing will change.
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Lazarisbk
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Discussion 36 : 07 Oct 2012 at 14.1236
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I blame Thai immigration and the police for this pending execution. If they both did their jobs correctly, there would be no Nigerians in Bangkok and this girl would not be in the spot she's in now.
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jacksprat
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Discussion 35 : 07 Oct 2012 at 13.5235
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I just realised she was paid 50,000 baht! I'd thought it was $50,000. One must be desperately poor to risk one's life for 50,000 baht. The average bar girl in Nana or Patpong makes at least that much a month - and spends it as fast as she can. And how many hi-so rich kids used the very same drug that she is to die for?
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garabaldi
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Discussion 34 : 07 Oct 2012 at 13.5034
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It is surely opportune to point out that according to international law (as interpreted by the UN Human Rights Council) the death penalty may apply only for premeditated homicide, not for drug crimes. Firstly, the Government of Thailand should immediately abolish the death penalty for drug crimes, and then impress the principle on other members of ASEAN. Do it now, and urgently. Then take the responsibility to save our fellow citizen from unjust execution. The death penalty is not the solution to drug crimes!
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viking
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Discussion 33 : 07 Oct 2012 at 13.3433
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Drug kills, and that is what this young woman have learned the hard way, but that’s the name of the game. She knew she was doing something wrong, very wrong. Death penalty NO THANK YOU, but sometimes needed. Statue an example. Please do not underastiment the court, they have a rough task, but somebody has to do it….Sorry…
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felixqui
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Discussion 32 : 07 Oct 2012 at 13.0832
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khunbill, re D29.
So too is alcohol "a nasty drug that ruins peoples lives and usually some other crime is associated with it" - especially violence and murder, but also spending family money on the habit.
And icecream is a major contributor to the rising obesity epidemic "that ruins peoples lives" cuases early deaths, breaks up families, and so on.

On your logic, not only alcohol producers and dealers would have to be criminalised (I believe the US has tried this), but also ice cream sellers and Coke Cola - something I believe the mayor or New York is now moving towards.
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felixqui
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Discussion 31 : 07 Oct 2012 at 13.0331
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bkk-farang, re D28.
My logic is fine. Yours fails.
If the banker's money laundering cleans profits from child abuse, then she is guilty of a serious crime. If the money laundering is for profits of alcohol or heroin dealing to consenting adults with no harm to others, how can that be wrong?
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lungstib
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Discussion 30 : 07 Oct 2012 at 12.5830
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I see compassion is not much to the fore from some of the BP readers. I feel saddened for both her and her family.
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khunbill
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Discussion 29 : 07 Oct 2012 at 12.4329
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disc#25

To answer your question "does anyone see anything seriously evil" Smuggling hard narcotics into another country that outlaws drugs such as methamphademines is serious. Evil I think is wrong choice of words. Meth is a nasty drug that ruins peoples lives and usually some other crime is associated with it.

The death penalty is absurd and the only evil is the death penalty.
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Vietnam court upholds drug smuggler's death sentence | Bangkok Post: news