Two Indians get death penalty in Malaysia drug cases

Officials say Malaysian courts have sentenced two Indian citizens to a mandatory penalty of death by hanging for separate cases of drug trafficking. An official in a High Court near Kuala Lumpur says businessman Samad Mohamed Sulthan was convicted Monday of smuggling 9 pounds (4 kilograms) of ketamine in a jewellery box at Malaysia's main international airport in February 2009.
Another court official in northern Kelantan state says clothes seller Mukhtar Shakeer Aslien was convicted Monday of smuggling ketamine at the state's airport. Authorities found him in possession of 19 pounds (9 kilograms) of ketamine hidden in photograph frames in July 2009. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity Tuesday because they were not allowed to make public statements.