The Nation, Bangkok, Thailand.
DRUG SMUGGLING: Four foreigners get life sentences
Published on September 20, 2002Dutchman, Brit and 2 Nepalese found guilty of trying to traffic 3.4 kg of heroin
Four foreign drug traffickers were handed life sentences yesterday in the Criminal Court after being found guilty of attempting to smuggle 3.38 kilograms of heroin out of Thailand.
The four were Dutchman Marinus Hendrikus Parlevliet, 48, Briton Julian Nicolas Gilby, 34, and Nepalese Hari Garung Bahadur, 27, and Pore Ghale, 30.
They had been charged along with a Thai woman, Namoy Nakcharoen, 28. She was acquitted for lack of evidence.
The court originally handed down death sentences to the four but these were commuted because of their cooperation with police investigators.
The court had earlier heard that the drug runners had been arrested at Don Muang International Airport on December 28 last year.
Prosecutors told the court that Parlevliet, Namoy and Gilby were all arrested while Parlevliet and Namoy were saying farewell to Gilby. He had been scheduled to fly to Taiwan.
Police found the drugs hidden in a chamber of Gilby's suitcase. Police later arrested Bahadur and Ghale for providing the drugs.
The court heard that Parlevliet and Gilby allegedly admitted to police they had attempted to smuggle the drugs. They pleaded not guilty at trial.
The Nepalese admitted they took a bag to Gilby's hotel room, but denied any knowledge of it contents.
Namoy denied knowledge of the drug smuggling. She asserted she had gone to the airport to say goodbye only. The court found the four foreigners had collaborated in the smuggling.
Thai anti-narcotics police were tipped off by the United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) that Gilby would try to smuggle heroin from Thailand. Police staked out the trafficker's hotel room. It was police evidence that agents witnessed the two Nepalese deliver a bag later found to hold the heroin to Gilby. Police said they later witnessed Parlevliet and Namoy arrive to take Gilby to the airport.
It was discovered Parlevliet had paid Gilby's accommodation and also pre-booked accommodation in Taiwan for the drug runner.
The Nation
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