Two Israelis sentenced to death in Thailand for drugs conviction

[Scurrilous]

<snip>

"A Thai court on Tuesday sentenced to death two Israeli nationals who had been convicted of dealing drugs.

The pair was arrested about a year ago during a large-scale police operation on Bangkok's Kao San road, a popular destination for Israeli tourists.

They were caught with 23,000 ecstasy pills in their possession that they had smuggled from Europe. They had planned to take the drugs from Thailand to sell in Japan, Australia and the United States.

Thai police also arrested a number of other Israelis in the same operation, but they were later released when it became clear they had no connection with the incident.

The Foreign Ministry said it is aware of all developments in the affair and is in contact with the pair's families."

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1040896.html

[jimshoes]

1. That seems a bit harsh,

no?

[Scurrilous]

2. Yeah...

...I'd say it was a bit harsh.

More info:

Thailand: 2 Israeli drug offenders sentenced to death

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3628432,00.html

Thai court sentences two Israeli men to death; Vladimir Akronik, Alon Mahluf convicted of drug trafficking after being arrested a year ago; Israelis plan to appeal sentence, Foreign Ministry confirms report

<snip>

"Two Israelis convicted of drug trafficking were sentenced to death Tuesday by a Thai court. The two men plan to appeal the sentence. The Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem confirmed the report.

The two Israelis, 34-year-old Vladimir Akronik and 37-year-old Alon Mahluf, were detained in the vicinity of Bangkok's Kao San Road in possession of 23,000 ecstasy pills about a year ago. Thai media reported that the two arrived in Thailand from Europe and were detained after authorities received information about them from American officials.

Alex Avidan, who maintains contact with Israeli prisoners in Thailand, told Ynet: "Vladimir arrived in Thailand as an innocent backpacker, and a week later found himself imprisoned on drug trafficking charges. He told me he was entrapped. He said he arrived in Thailand in order to backpack, and someone asked him to hand over a key to someone else. He admitted that he was foolish."

Avidan said that the death penalty in Thailand is very rare, noting that the gravest offence in the country is the rape of minors, followed by drug trafficking.

"The maximal penalty imposed on drug traffickers is indeed a death sentence, but I know Israelis who are in jail for drug trade offences," he said. Turning his attention to conditions at prison, Avidan said: "The policy of prisons all across the Far East is that inmates get a cement floor and 180 grams of rice to eat. Everything depends on outside help."

Avidan also noted that the local Jewish community, headed by Chabad-Lubavitch Rabbi NehemiahWilhelm, was assisting the two men."

[Orangeone]

3. Simple Greed

Were they ignorant of Thai law? I don't think any one forced them to smuggle the ecstasy pills. While I feel the sentence is harsh, people should know and respect the laws of the countries they are visiting and not expect special treatment because they are foreigners.