Drugs: 7 Sabahans jailed in Japan
Published on: Wednesday, July 18, 2018
Kota Kinabalu: Young Sabahans beware – an Iranian and his Sabahan woman accomplice have succeeded in sweet-talking seven Sabahans, six of them females, into becoming unsuspecting drug mules. All seven are now in jail in Japan for drug offences, the latest arrest was on May 24, this year. Three of them received jail terms ranging between eight and 10 years.
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To add salt to injury, two Sabahan lawyers exploited the vulnerability of the victims' families by offering their services despite the fact that they would not be able to represent any of the victims in Japan.The family of one of the girls handed over RM70,000 to one of the lawyers who promised to do something about it but returned empty-handed. Another lawyer offered his services but by then the families had become wiser.The Iranian mastermind worked his charms while all the victims were in the nation's capital. All were arrested on arrival at Narita International Airport from Kuala Lumpur.
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Their handphones were confiscated. The victims were offered a free trip to Japan plus free food and accommodation for four to five days, without allegedly realising they were "human couriers" for drugs.In the first three known cases, Rebecca (not her real name), 38, Nani (not her real name), 42, and Rosa, 28, (not her real name), left Kuala Lumpur on a midnight flight on Oct. 26, 2017, purportedly for a free vacation in Japan. They were arrested on suspicion of drug smuggling upon arrival at Narita International Airport on Oct. 27, 2017.
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Nani had reportedly been to Japan twice earlier but nothing happened then. Earlier, Rebecca, a mother of one, was introduced to Nani by a mutual friend at a restaurant in Kota Kinabalu.Apparently, a type of stimulant was well-concealed at the base of each piece of luggage carried by the trio. It was allegedly placed there by the recruiter, according to the family of one of the victims. The trio were interrogated by police at the Narita International Airport, and Rebecca panicked and almost fainted when she learned about the hidden drug after the bags were scanned. Rebecca, Nani and Rosa had been in the lock-up for seven months following their arrest prior to their trial on May 14 this year. At the trial, it emerged that their own luggage had been replaced with a different piece by the recruiter, believed to be a drug dealer, whom they met at a hotel within the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) while on transit to Japan. The court also heard that the ladies were "briefed" by the recruiter at the hotel on what they were supposed to do in Japan. The three bags containing imitation branded goods (examples, scarves, handbags, watches, etc) were to be handed to the recruiter's so-called friend in Japan.Rebecca and Nani cried throughout the trial on May 17, said the former's family who were present in court that day. "Rebecca broke down when she saw us in court. We could see that she had lost weight because she had no appetite to eat." "The jail sentence had taken a toll on her health. Actually she needs two types of medication for a medical condition but the authorities there could provide only one type for whatever reason."Nani was sentenced to 10 years and six months' and fined five million yen (or in default, an additional 300 days' jail), Rosa nine years and six months and fined three million yen (or in default an additional 200 days' jail) and Rebecca eight years and six months' imprisonment and fined three million yen (or in default an additional 200 days in jail).Two Japanese lawyers (assisted by translators) were assigned to each of the three women on a pro bono basis. The case is pending an appeal to the Tokyo High Court after the trial at the Chiba District Court."We expect a retrial to take place once the outcome is known," said Rebecca's family who was informed about her arrest by the Sabah Regional Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs the same month.When visited by family members at the Chiba Detention Centre on May 18 this year, Rebecca said: "Saya menyesal (I regret)." She told them (family) that she trusted Nani when offered the free trip as the latter was a responsible single mother."Rebecca told me that Nani's boyfriend (recruiter) had asked her (Nani) to bring her friends for a holiday in Japan," said a family member. "The story was that the boyfriend was working in the tourism industry in Japan. So he could get free tickets for Nani to take her friends jalan jalan (go for a holiday)."Rebecca's family sought help from friends and relatives around Sabah to raise RM70,000 as legal fees without realising that Sabah lawyers are not allowed to practise in Japan.In hindsight, a sibling lamented: "Kami kena tipu sudah (We got cheated already). Although we could not afford the fees, we were desperate and began looking for a lawyer to assist us."The lawyer concerned assured us that he could do this and that. He made a trip to Japan to meet Rebecca's lawyer but failed to secure the release of Rebecca. Upon his return, we decided not to pursue the case with him any longer." Another Sabah lawyer also offered assistance for a fee of RM50,000 but it was not taken up, according to the sibling.Following the arrest of four more Sabahans in Japan for a similar offence on May 24 this year, Rebecca's family was encouraged to lodge a police report in Sabah."We went to the Karamunsing police station on June 5 this year but police said they couldn't do anything because the incident took place in Japan. However, a corporal gave us the contact number of a senior police personnel serving in the IPK Selangor (Ibu Pejabat Polis Kontinjen).Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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