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SHAH ALAM: A free trip to Malaysia has become the final destination for two Iranian women when they were sentenced to death for drug trafficking.



Accountant Shahrzad Matinnia Mansoor, 31, and secretary Neda Mostafaei Ghodraollah, 26, were in tears after High Court judge Justice Abdul Alim Abdullah meted out the mandatory sentence.

“The defence story that the two women came into Malaysia bringing food items was dongeng (a fairy tale) and ridiculous.

“The defence has failed to raise a reasonable doubt,” he said yesterday before sentencing the two accused to be hanged to death.

Shahrzad was charged with trafficking in 2.6kg of methamphetamine while Neda was charged with trafficking in 2.7kg of the same type of drugs at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 6.50am on Dec 15, 2010.

The court heard testimony that the two, who were introduced by a mutual friend known as Alireza, met for the first time at a bus terminal in Syria.

Alireza had offered them a free stay in Syria for pilgrimage.

They claimed that on the fourth day in Syria, Alireza offered to sponsor their trip to Malaysia and asked them to bring in food items such as sweets and nuts.

Another man known as Behzad then went to their hotel to pass them bags purportedly containing the food items.

However, when searched at the airport, police found the drugs hidden in the bags containing the clothes of the women.

DPP Wan Zuraida Wan Nawan prosecuted, while Shahrzad was represented by Muhamad Fadhli Mat Sutris and Neda by Hisyam Teh Pok Teik.