AMPANG: A social worker is languishing in a prison cell in Peru, in yet another case of a Malaysian woman being held for allegedly trafficking in drugs.

Punitha K.K. Samy is suffering from cancer and tuberculosis

Punitha K.K. Samy, 50, was arrested after authorities at the international airport in Lima found 3kg of cocaine in her luggage.

On Tuesday, Peruvian prison authorities contacted Dr Kalai Kumar, a friend and former employer of Punitha here, to reveal that the woman was gravely ill.

Dr Kalai, who also goes by the spiritual name of Tarapith Yantra Yogi, is the founder and chairman of Tantra Yoga Hindu Organisation.

"Punitha gave the prison authorities my contact number. They told me she is suffering from stomach cancer and tuberculosis," Dr Kalai told the New Straits Times yesterday.
"The caller told me they could not contact Punitha's family and that she gave them my name."

He said Punitha lost contact with her family nine years ago when they were still staying in Sentul and with nowhere to go, she sought help at his organisation in Pinggiran Batu Caves.

"She stayed and worked with us. She was a social worker who was active in charity work," Dr Kalai said.

He said Punitha left for Dublin, Ireland, in 2005 where she worked as a maid for about a year.

"She returned to Malaysia and worked with me for several months before she packed her bags and said she was going to find a job in Europe.

"The last I spoke to her was in August 2006 when she called me from Spain to say she had met and fallen in love with a Nigerian and that they were going to get married."

Then came the call on Tuesday morning which shocked Dr Kalai.

"I don't know exactly what happened but I believe she could have been duped by her Nigerian lover into carrying the drugs for him," he said.

Dr Kalai's mission now is to bring her back, and he is seeking the assistance of the authorities here and non-governmental organisations.

He also urged Punitha's family members to contact him at the organisation's office at 11-2, Jalan PGN 1A/1, Pinggiran Batu Caves, Selangor.

It was reported in the New Sunday Times yesterday that 119 Malaysians, 90 per cent of whom are women, have been imprisoned in various parts of the world for drug-related offences.

The vast majority of these women are aged between 21 and 27 and are believed to have been duped or forced into being "mules" for drug syndicates.

It is learnt that Malaysians were prime targets for these syndicates wanting to smuggle drugs into European Union countries, as they do not require visas for stays of up to 90 days or to transit in those countries.

To curb this problem, the Foreign Ministry proposed that all women travelling out of the country alone be required to have a letter from parents or employers.

This move drew flak from NGOs, women's organisations and politicians.