Monday, 07 September 2009
KM News
Johanne Vinther Axelsen is facing a further 13 years in a Cambodian jail after her appeal was denied
A Danish woman’s appeal against her 15 year sentence for drug smuggling in Cambodia was rejected earlier today.
Johanne Vinther Axelsen, 55, was given the initial sentence by the city court in the capital of Phnom Penh in January after being found guilty of trying to export pain medication to the US on behalf of her son.
Axelsen delivered a package to a local post office in 2007 for her son that contained more than 10,000 codeine and Valium pills. At the time her family said she had no idea what she did was illegal.
In today’s appeal hearing, evidence provided by the defence lawyer showing Axelsen’s lack of knowledge about the illegal activity was disregarded. Instead, the hearing centred on whether the amount of pills was fewer than she had been originally sentenced for.
Axelsen’s lawyer Henrik Hasseris Olesen said his client was ‘shaken, shocked and deeply confused’ by the ruling and now faces another 13 years in a Cambodian correctional facility where she and 45 other woman share a 60sqm cell.
Olesen said he has contacted the Foreign Ministry to see if her living conditions can be improved until their appeal to the Supreme Court is heard.
KM News
Johanne Vinther Axelsen is facing a further 13 years in a Cambodian jail after her appeal was denied
A Danish woman’s appeal against her 15 year sentence for drug smuggling in Cambodia was rejected earlier today.
Johanne Vinther Axelsen, 55, was given the initial sentence by the city court in the capital of Phnom Penh in January after being found guilty of trying to export pain medication to the US on behalf of her son.
Axelsen delivered a package to a local post office in 2007 for her son that contained more than 10,000 codeine and Valium pills. At the time her family said she had no idea what she did was illegal.
In today’s appeal hearing, evidence provided by the defence lawyer showing Axelsen’s lack of knowledge about the illegal activity was disregarded. Instead, the hearing centred on whether the amount of pills was fewer than she had been originally sentenced for.
Axelsen’s lawyer Henrik Hasseris Olesen said his client was ‘shaken, shocked and deeply confused’ by the ruling and now faces another 13 years in a Cambodian correctional facility where she and 45 other woman share a 60sqm cell.
Olesen said he has contacted the Foreign Ministry to see if her living conditions can be improved until their appeal to the Supreme Court is heard.
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