Trial begins into Australian caught in Singapore with heroin

Airline Industry Information, Nov 24, 2003

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2003 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

The trial has begun into a 23-year-old Australian who was detained in Singapore with a packet of heroin taped to his back.

The man had arrived in Singapore from Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and was attempting to board a flight for Melbourne, Australia on 12 December 2002 when the drugs were discovered. The man then confessed that he was carrying further heroin and voluntarily handed over a second packet of the drug concealed in his backpack.

The man - who attempted to smuggle a total of 396.2 grams - may be punished by death as under Singapore law anyone caught with more than 15 grams of heroin could face the death sentence, according to The Associated Press.

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