Malaysian high court sentences Mexican brothers to dealth for drug trafficking

Kuala Lumpur, May 17 (Xinhua-ANI): A Malaysian high court on Thursday sentenced three Mexican brothers and two others to death by hanging for drug trafficking.

Kuala Lumpur high court judge Mohd Zawawi Saleh convicted 33- year-old Jose Regino Gonzales Villarreal, 36-year-old Simon Gonzales Villarreal, 44-year-old Alfonso Gonzales Villarreal, a Singaporean painter and a Malaysian crane operator for trafficking 29.46 kilograms of methamphetamine worth 44 million ringgit (14.15 million U.S. dollars).

Drug trafficking carries a mandatory death penalty by hanging under Malaysia's law.

The Mexicans were from Sinaloa state and have no prior criminal records.

They were arrested in March four years ago at a drug manufacturing factory in Malaysia's southern Johor state.

The judge dismissed the defense's arguments that they were hired as cleaners to clean the factory, saying stains of drug chemicals were found on their clothes.

The Villarreal brothers are the first Mexicans to be charged and convicted for drug trafficking.

Their attorney, Kitson Foong, said he will appeal the verdict. (Xinhua-ANI)