Two foreigners from Hongkong and Malaysia who were busted for carrying out a million-drug deal in Binondo, Manila in 2012, were each sentenced to life imprisonments Friday by the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 13.
In a nine-page decision written by Judge Emilio Rodolfo Legaspi III, Sui Ming Tat, of Hongkong and Lee Yoong Hoew, of Malaysia were found “guilty beyond reasonable doubt” for peddling illegal drugs.
Apart from the jail term, both Tat and Hoew would have to pay P500,000 fine each.
426.30 grams of Ephedrine with a value of P1.3 million was seized from the accused during a buy bust operation by the Philippine National Police-Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force inside a hotel in China Town, Binondo on July 26, 2012 in Manila.
During a pre-trial conference on November 6, 2012, Sui and Lee, who earlier pleaded not guilty, claimed they arrived in the Philippines on July 24, 2012 for a tour. But after two days of staying in the country, Lee’s mother called telling him that he had to go back to Malaysia.
Lee stated that he went to buy a plane ticket from Air Asia at a travel agency during that day but got surprised when he saw his companion already in handcuffs. Police later on arrested Lee.
The suspects presented the ticketing officer as their witness who claimed that Lee indeed bought plane tickets but it was her superior who dealt with the Hong Kong national.
The courts however gave credence to the operation of the authorities. (BETHEENA KAE UNITE)