Malaysia: Japanese woman sentenced to die

A court in Malaysia Tuesday sentenced a 36-year-old Japanese woman to death after finding her guilty on a drug trafficking charge.Mariko Takeuchi, a nurse, was accused of bringing more than 7.7 pounds (3.5 kilograms) of methamphetamines into Malaysia Oct. 31, 2009, Kyodo News reported. Death sentences are mandatory on drug trafficking convictions in Malaysia.Takeuchi had pleaded not guilty, saying a suitcase in which the drugs were found did not belong to her, but had been given to her by an acquaintance in Dubai. She has been in detention since her arrest.Her lawyer, Affifuddin Ahmad Hafifi, told the court: "She is an innocent carrier. The bag is not hers and she has no knowledge of the drugs," the report said.The high court outside Kuala Lumpur did not accept her plea.Takeuchi is the first Japanese national to be tried on a drug trafficking charge in Malaysia and the first to be sentenced to death, Kyodo said.