TWO Zambian women have been sentenced to death in Malaysia for drug
trafficking related offences.
The two women have been identified as Mailess Phiri, holder of
passport number ZN146393 and Doreen Nachilongo, holder of passport
Number ZN216687.
Home Affairs head of public relations Moses Suwali said in a statement
that the two are part of the nine Zambian citizens who have been
arrested and detained in Malaysia and Thailand for drug trafficking
related offences as well as alleged use of fake passports.
Mr Suwali said the nine include three females and six males.
“The remaining seven have not yet appeared before the courts as
investigations are still going on.
Mailess Phiri was arrested on 8th December, 2012 at Bayan Lepas
international airport in Penang-Malaysia and sentenced to death on
November 08, 2011.
Doreen Nachilongo was arrested at Kuala Lumpur International Airport
on 23rd February, 2011 on arrival from South Africa. She was in
possession of narcotic drugs and subsequently tried and sentenced to
death imprisonment in June, 2013,” Mr Suwali said.
He said the other female identified as Mary Njovu, holder of passport
number ZN303818, was arrested at Kuala Lumpur International Airport on
21st July, 2012 while in possession of narcotic drugs and is currently
held at Kajang Women’s Prison as investigations are still going on and
laboratory results of the drugs she was found with are still being awaited.
Mr Suwali said identified those arrested in Thailand Michael Nkuka
Chibesakunda, holder of passport number Z96784, who was arrested in August,
2010 for allegedly using a fake passport.
He said Mr Chibesakunda is currently being held at Samut Prakan
Province Prison while Kasongo Mande Nswana, holder of passport number
ZJ35466, was arrested in 2010 for drug related offences, Kennedy
Sichone, holder of passport number ZH44295, arrested on 9th April,
2012 and being held at a prison in Sakeo Province in Thailand for
importation and possession of narcotic drugs.
“Simwaba Charles Tizaso and Daka Nhamo,, holders of passport numbers
ZC021560 and ZC005369 respectively were both arrested on 14th May,
2013 for allegedly being in possession of a forged passport and entering
Thailand illegally,” he said.
Meanwhile, Minister of Home Affairs, Edgar Lungu, has warned those
involved in Drug Trafficking and Illegal Migration to refrain from
doing so because countries world-wide are on high alert.
Mr Lungu said this is in an effort to combat this scourge through
massive operations and a world network of coordinated efforts coupled
with stiffer punitive measures which in some countries include death
sentences.
He further warned Zambians involved in drug dealing to realize that
doing so was putting our country which carries a good name globally in
bad light and has advised them to instead switch to legal businesses
or face the full weight of justice.
“ In this vein, those who make a fuss of involving themselves in this
crime should not think that they will go scout free as Law
Enforcement Officers who are on high alert will catch up with them and
will have themselves to blame,” he said.