2 women smuggled heroin

FOR $300 each, two women risked their lives to help smuggle in 2.5kg of heroin-laced powder.

Jamaliah Yacab, 24, and Maryati Sipon, 27, initially faced a capital charge as the amount of heroin came to 16.53g.

The prosecution amended the charge to trafficking at least 14.99g of heroin and they pleaded guilty on Monday. The court was not told why the amount of heroin was reduced.

Anyone convicted of trafficking in more than 15g of heroin is hanged.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Ng Cheng Thiam told the High Court that the heroin was hidden in a box of detergent among other household items brought in through the Woodlands Checkpoint by Jamaliah, a Malaysian, at 5.30pm on Dec 31, 2007.

While Jamaliah carried the drugs, Maryati, a Singaporean, was the money mule.

According to court documents, a ringleader met Maryati at a coffee shop near the Lavender MRT station early that day. He allegedly handed her $30,500 and instructed her to convert it into Malaysian ringgit and to give it to a man, known only as Boy Cino, in Johor Baru (JB).

For this task, she received $300. She handed the RM69,690 to Boy Cino at about noon at a taxi stand at City Square in JB. She then returned to Singapore.

Two hours later, Boy Cino arranged for Jamaliah to meet him in JB. He gave her RM400 and the plastic bags containing detergent and other items. When she delivered these to 42-year-old Kharul Anwar Zaini that evening, she got another $50.

The women, who will be sentenced in two weeks time, face a minimum jail term of 20 years. The maximum is a life sentence. They are spared the mandatory 15 strokes of the cane.

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