Nigerian student sentenced to death in Malaysia

A Nigerian studying at a private college in Malaysia was sentenced to death by hanging after the High Court Shah Alam on Friday found him guilty of trafficking 725.4 gm of methamphetamine three years ago. Luke Nnaemeka Ugwu, 29, was said to have committed the offence at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport arrival hall in Sepang at 9.45 pm on May 15, 2012. Justice Datuk Abdul Alim Abdullah found his defence to be a mere denial, according to Bernama, Malaysian National News Agency. Deputy public prosecutor Hasifulkhair Mohammed Jamaluddin and Husniyah Hanapi represented the prosecution while counsel Hasnan Hamzah defended Luke. In the same court, two other Nigerian students were said to have escaped the noose after one of them pleaded guilty to an alternative charge. Onyeme Chibunna Okechukwu, 31, and Obdiegwu Chinwuba Sigismund, 29, initially claimed trial to trafficking in 4,432 gm of cannabis, under Section 39B (1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the death sentence, according to Bernama. They were accused of committing the offence at the parking lot at Magna Villa Condo, Selayang around 1 am on February 20, 2012. When the trial was about to commence, Onyeme was said to have pleaded guilty to the alternative charge of drug possession and received a 12-year sentence and 12 strokes of the cane, while Obdiegwu was acquitted. The judge ordered Onyeme to serve the jail term from the date of his arrest on February 20, 2012.