Police regard death sentence most appropriate for drug traffickers

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 12 (Bernama) – The police regard the death sentence as the most appropriate penalty for convicted drug traffickers but will propose the maximum punishment if the death sentence is abolished, it was stated today.

Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Mohmad Salleh said should the death sentence be abolished, the most appropriate penalty for drug traffickers will be life imprisonment or up to 15 strokes of the cane.

He said he personally feels that the death sentence is the most appropriate for these offenders because drug traffickers are gradually killing the many addicts who buy drugs from them.

“Nevertheless, as the police, we abide by the legislation set by Parliament, but we will seek the maximum penalty for drug traffickers,” he said at a press conference.

Mohmad was asked to comment on a proposal to abolish the mandatory death sentence in the country.

Last Sunday, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong reportedly said that a survey was done following the government decision to abolish the mandatory death sentence in keeping with the international standards on human rights.

-- BERNAMA