Save Raja Munirah

The New Straits Time - 27/5/2008

Raja Munirah Raja Iskandar needs to pay her fine of 1.5 million yen (RM46,800) or serve an extra 250 days in jail. She was found guilty of having 690g of syabu at Narita International Airport in 2006.

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysian student Raja Munirah Raja Iskandar has failed in her final attempt to quash her conviction and jail term for attempting to smuggle syabu at the Narita International Airport in 2006.

The decision was pronounced by the Japan Supreme Court on May 20 after finding that the argument submitted by Raja Munirah's counsel was merely based on the claim of breach of procedural law, which was not the appropriate ground to allow her application to appeal to the Supreme Court.

Her counsel, Rosal Azimin Ahmad, said the proper reason prescribed under Article 405 of Japan's Criminal Procedural Law was claim for breach of constitutional right.

He said Raja Munirah was sad over the decision but took it calmly.

Rosal Azimin said Raja Munirah might apply for parole but she must complete half of her jail term.

Raja Munirah, 23, was sentenced to seven years and six months' jail and fined 1.5 million yen (RM46,800), in default 250 days' jail, by the Japan High Court after she pleaded guilty.

Her sentence was to run from the date of her arrest, which was Dec 20, 2006. She was, however, given a reduction of 270 days. She, therefore, has to serve a jail term of six years and nine months.

Meanwhile, Rosal Azimin appealed to the public for donations to pay the fine so that Raja Munirah does not have to serve the 250 days' jail term.

A few packets containing syabu weighing 690g were found in Raja Munirah's bag at Narita International Airport. She had gone to Tokyo to attend an interview for the post of public relations officer.

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

The New Straits Times - 05/12/2007

KUALA LUMPUR: A High Court in Japan yesterday rejected an appeal by Malaysian student Raja Munirah Raja Iskandar to quash her conviction and jail term of seven years and four months for attempting to smuggle in 690gm 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, 22, 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 a cyber forensic report to extract SMSes between Raja Munirah and Milad, an Iranian man whom she claimed framed her.

Her counsel, Rosal Azimin Ahmad, said the court held that there was insufficient cyber forensic report evidence. It also questioned the legality and authenticity of the SMS data report from cyber forensics.

Rosal Azimin said he would appeal to the Supreme Court. -- Bernama

Bernama

The New Straits Times - 04/12/2007

KUALA LUMPUR, Tue.:

A High Court in Japan today rejected an appeal by Malaysian student Raja Munirah Raja Iskandar to throw out her conviction and seven-year, four-month 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.

New Straits Times - 01/10/2007

By : Rita Jong

Raja Munirah Raja Iskandar Shah was allegedly duped by an Iranian man

KUALA LUMPUR: The past nine months have been agonising for Sarimah Karimah.

Sarimah Karimah last saw her daughter in December

The mother of five has been helpless, worrying about her eldest daughter who is languishing in a Tokyo detention centre for drug possession.

She prays every day for her daughter's health and safety.

Raja Munirah Raja Iskandar Shah, 22, is believed to have been duped into being a “mule” for a drug syndicate.

“I know my daughter. She is not the type who would do such things. It breaks my heart to see her pay for a crime she didn't commit,” said Sarimah, who last saw her daughter just before she went to Japan in December.

Raja Munirah is a second-year mass communications student at Limkokwing University of Creative Technology in Cyberjaya.

During the semester break, Raja Munirah decided to help earn money for her family by working overseas as a promoter. Her good intentions, however, backfired.

According to Sarimah, Raja Munirah befriended an Iranian man known only as "Milad".

“I've met him twice. My family and I were all fooled by his kindness. He deceived my daughter into believing she could earn money in Japan by sponsoring her trip there.

“He even bought a suitcase for her,” she said, adding that Milad and her daughter were friends for only six months before the incident.

Milad is also said to be a student in a local college, but after the incident, he was believed to have fled to Indonesia.

Raja Munirah's trip to Japan was supposed to be for only three days.

On Dec 22, she went to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport with Milad, who had packed her clothes for her in the new suitcase.

According to Raja Munirah's letters to her childhood friend, Aizat Muhamad Jani, Milad locked the suitcase and did not give her the keys. Milad promised to meet her in Tokyo the next day.

When the Customs officer in Japan wanted to check her bag, she tried calling Milad for the keys, but could not reach him.

She was then arrested and in the middle of the year, pleaded guilty to having 690.88g of syabu in her possession. She was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years' jail.

Her plea of guilt, however, did not mean she committed the offence.

“She was alone. She did not understand the language and could not explain what had happened. When she was taken to court, a court-appointed lawyer told her to plead guilty as she had no money to hire counsel.

“I went to see her in June and she looked so weak. She was ill and wheezing. She looked like a different person,” said Aizat.

Sarimah said she had lodged a police report after learning that her daughter had been arrested. However, she said police had yet to contact her.

She said her son Raja Daniel, who was very close to his sister, constantly asked about her.

“I don't have the heart to tell him what really happened. All he knows is that his sister is away studying,” she said.

Sarimah's husband, Raja Iskandar Shah, worked in a construction company in Sudan.

They have appointed Malaysian counsel Rosal Azimin Ahmad to fight their daughter's case.

Rosal said Raja Munirah was not properly represented.

“Her appeal is coming up on Oct 4. I am hoping to postpone the matter to obtain documents to help her,” he said.

Rosal left for Japan on Saturday and will be returning on Friday.