Mexican brothers, 2 others to hang for drug trafficking

By Hidir Reduan

KUALA LUMPUR: Three Mexican brothers, a Singaporean and a local man was sentenced to death today for trafficking in 29,460.17gm of methamphetamine in Johor four years back.

The High Court passed sentence after it found the Prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt against Luis Alfonso Gonzales Villareal, 44, and his siblings, Simon, 36, and Jose Rigino, 33, Singaporean Lim Hung Wang, 56, and Malaysian Lee Bon Siah, 48.

High Court judge Datuk Mohd Zawawi Salleh termed the Defence put forward by the five accused a mere afterthought.

"All five accused denied knowledge of the drugs which they said were in three locked rooms in the factory."

"However, testimonies by Prosecution witnesses that drug paraphernalia were found in the rooms and other parts of the factory does not bear this out," he said.

The judge highlighted the testimony of the fourth Prosecution witness, a chemist, who testified to finding traces of drugs on its premises.

"Traces were also found on plastic containers, leftover plastic bags, plastic covers, and other materials found in the factory."

"This shows the factory was used as a drug processing laboratory," he said.

The judge pointed out that assertions by the five accused that they were working as cleaners at the factory is nonsensical.

"This is especially so in light of the claim by the Mexicans that they came to Malaysia to find work in Singapore."

"If they really were looking for work in Singapore, then why did they have to come to Malaysia in the first place?" the judge asked rhetorically.

The five accused committed the offence at a factory in the Senai Industrial Estate, Johor, at 3.15pm on March 4, 2008.

The charge sheet also stated that equipment and other chemicals used for making drugs were seized.

The five accused were first charged on March 14, 2008. On Feb 25, 2011, the court ordered them to enter defence after finding the Prosecution succeeded in proving a prima facie case against them.

Fourteen people testified for the Prosecution while seven witnesses were called by the Defence.

Johor's Head of Prosecution Umar Saifuddin Jaafar prosecuted.

Counsel Rosal Azimin Ahmad acted for Lim while counsel Kitson Foong represented the remaining accused.

Mexican brothers, 2 others to hang for drug trafficking

KUALA LUMPUR: Three Mexican brothers, a Singaporean and a local man was sentenced to death today for trafficking in 29,460.17gm of methamphetamine in Johor four years back.

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