Thai drug trafficker spared death penalty

SINGAPORE — A Thai woman was sentenced today (Jan 8) by the High Court to life in prison for importing over 1.8kg of methamphetamine, escaping the gallows after she was granted a certificate of substantive assistance by the Attorney-General.

Konkla Juntida, 31, who is from Chonburi Province in Thailand was arrested at the arrival hall of Changi Airport on Dec 26, 2012, after she was found in possession of the “Class A” controlled drug without authorisation — an offence which carries a mandatory death sentence.

Konkla appeared calm today after Judicial Commissioner Hoo Sheau Peng meted out the sentence, which was read to Konkla in Thai. She later met with representatives from the Thai embassy who were present at the hearing.

In November 2012, the Misuse of Drugs Act was amended to give judges discretion in sentencing for some drug-trafficking cases.

In November 2013, Malaysian convicted drug trafficker Yong Vui Kong, 26, became the first offender to escape the death penalty, following the amendment, after he was found to have substantially assisted the Central Narcotics Bureau in disrupting drug-trafficking activities within and outside the Republic.