South African woman found guilty of drug trafficking

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The Federal High Court Third Criminal Bench on April 9 found guiltily a South African national, Nashlien Simon Nolien.

Nashlien was charged with possessing 4,200 grams of cocaine at the transit terminal of Bole International Airport.

According to the change sheet presented to the court, Nashlien Simon was caught last February 13 by airport police when she was transiting through Ethiopian Airlines from Brazil (Sao Paolo) to Burundi (Bujumbura) in trying to sneak 4,200 grams of cocaine by hiding it inside seven different bags in her suitcase.

Nashlien Simon was found guilty as changed. The court heard the request of public prosecutor Sintayehu Asmamawe to hear witnesses. He raised the argument that the witnesses would show that the crime comitted was intentional and would invalidate the argument raised by Nashlien Simon, stating that the handbags were given to her as a gift from her boyfriend and that she had no knowledge of the cocaine inside the bags.

On the other hand, the counsel for the prosecution argued that there was no reason to hear the witnesses of the public prosecutor because her client had already admitted to the allegation brought upon her.

After discussing the issues raised, the court denied the request of the public prosecutor to hear witnesses stating that there was no need for it because the suspect had already admitted to the charge.

The court asked if there were any aggravating circumstances the public prosecutor would raise that would make the crime done fall under Article 525 (1) (b) of the Criminal Code, which provides from 5 to 25 years of jail term. The public prosecutor asked for the maximum punishment.

On the other hand, the attorney for the defence pleaded with the court for a lighter sentence in view of the fact that the defendant had no previous criminal record, had admitted to the crime and that she had a family depending on her.

With that note the court adjourned the case for April 30 to give its final sentencing.