Swede sentenced to death in Thailand
A 30-year-old Swedish man has been sentenced to death in Thailand for manufacturing methamphetamine, in what the man called a “political” ruling.
A Thai court sentenced Kim Eriksson Sirawan, 30, to death for possessing and manufacturing narcotics, the Aftonbladet newspaper reports.
But a judge immediately changed the sentence to life in prison, which is common for foreigners sentenced to death in Thailand, and corresponds to 45 years in prison, according to the Aftonbladet newpaper.
“This is a political ruling. They're out to get me,” Eriksson Sirawan told the newspaper.
The 30-year-old Swede was arrested in his home in Bangkok in July of last year. Police discovered Eriksson Sirawan had a drug lab in his home as well as 53 grammes of methamphetamine.
He is now set to be transferred to a special prison for inmates who have been convicted of drug offences.
According to Eriksson Sirawan, he plans to appeal the verdict.
“The Thai legal system is a joke. I'm disappointed that the court didn't consider the evidence I presented,” he said.
In court, Eriksson Sirawan claimed that he was set up and that a Swedish individual was used as an informant.
He said he simply wanted to learn how to make methamphetamine and shortly thereafter a Swede turned up to help teach him and – Eriksson Sirawan claimed – reported him to police.
According to Aftonbladet, it can take up to four years for Eriksson Sirawan's case to be heard on appeal.
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A Thai court sentenced Kim Eriksson Sirawan, 30, to death for possessing and manufacturing narcotics, the Aftonbladet newspaper reports.
But a judge immediately changed the sentence to life in prison, which is common for foreigners sentenced to death in Thailand, and corresponds to 45 years in prison, according to the Aftonbladet newpaper.
“This is a political ruling. They're out to get me,” Eriksson Sirawan told the newspaper.
The 30-year-old Swede was arrested in his home in Bangkok in July of last year. Police discovered Eriksson Sirawan had a drug lab in his home as well as 53 grammes of methamphetamine.
He is now set to be transferred to a special prison for inmates who have been convicted of drug offences.
According to Eriksson Sirawan, he plans to appeal the verdict.
“The Thai legal system is a joke. I'm disappointed that the court didn't consider the evidence I presented,” he said.
In court, Eriksson Sirawan claimed that he was set up and that a Swedish individual was used as an informant.
He said he simply wanted to learn how to make methamphetamine and shortly thereafter a Swede turned up to help teach him and – Eriksson Sirawan claimed – reported him to police.
According to Aftonbladet, it can take up to four years for Eriksson Sirawan's case to be heard on appeal.
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