Save Raja Munirah

Bernama - 04/12/2007

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 4 (Bernama) -- A High Court in Japan today rejected an appeal by a Malaysian student Raja Munirah Raja Iskandar to throw out her conviction and seven years and four months' jail term for attempting to smuggle in 690 grammes of syabu at the Narita International Airport in Tokyo last year.

The court, however, reduced her jail term by 100 days. With the reduction, Raja Munirah will be in jail for seven years and one month.

In upholding her conviction and sentence, the High Court did not accept the evidence of cyber forensic report -- SMS (short messaging service) data report -- to retract SMS messages between Raja Munirah and Milad, an Iranian man whom she claimed framed her.

Her counsel Rosal Azimin Ahmad, when contacted, said the court held that there was insufficient cyber forensic report evidence.

He said the court also questioned the legality and authenticity of the SMS data report from cyber forensic.

Rosal Azimin said he would appeal to the Supreme Court on the decision. He said the defence has 10 days to file the appeal to the Supreme Court.

He said a group of lawyers from Japan would handle Raja Munirah's appeal in the Supreme Court.

Raja Munirah, 22, a mass communication student at a private college in Malaysia, pleaded guilty to the offence committed on Dec 20 last year.

She claimed she was framed by Milad who asked her to carry the luggage through the customs checkpoint without knowing the contents.

She is serving her sentence at the Tokyo detention centre in Kosuge.

-- BERNAMA