Pubdate: Fri, 24 Nov 2006
Source: East African Standard, The (Kenya)
Copyright: 2006 The East African Standard
Contact:  http://www.eastandard.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1743
Author: Cyrus Ombati

FORMER MP'S DAUGHTER AMONG STUDENTS HELD OVER DRUGS

One of the two Kenyan students arrested in connection  with drug
trafficking in Malasyia is the daughter of  former Gem MP, Mr Joe Donde.

A Malaysian newspaper, New Straits Times, on Wednesday  reported that
all the four students had tested positive  for marijuana.

A distraught Donde called The Standard on Thursday to  break the news
that his daughter, Deborah, was one of  the two students in police
cells in Kuala Lumpur.

"I have been in trauma since we were informed that she  had been
arrested over the allegations," he said.

Donde said he and his wife were shocked beyond belief  on being
informed that their 18-year-old daughter,  could be hanged if found
guilty.

Malaysian laws set a mandatory death sentence for  anyone caught with
200g or more of marijuana.

Drugs was found in the form of four slabs

Deborah is in her second year studying architecture at  Linkoqueen
University in Kuala Lumpur.

Like her well-known sister, Eva, who has represented  the country in
international swimming competitions,  Deborah is also a good swimmer.

The Malaysian newspaper on Thgursday quoted the Sepang  Area Police
Chief Superintendent, Mr Zahedi Ayob,  saying a team of policemen,
comprising two officers and  14 personnel from the narcotics
department arrested the  suspects at 2.30pm on Saturday.

"The seized ganja (marijuana) was found in the form of  four slabs
while some was contained in small plastic  packets, weighing 4kg in
total," said the newspaper.

The police officer, who said the case was the first  drugs arrest in
the town, told the newspaper that  initial investigation showed that
the drug was to be  sold to college students.

Deborah assured parents she is innocent

The former MP, whose wife flew out to Kuala Lumpur on  Thursday night,
said they got information about the  arrest on Tuesday, soon after the
two students were  arrested alongside two others-- one from Eritrea
and  the other from Saudi Arabia.

The police in Kuala Lumpur informed the Kenya High  Commission and an
envoy was sent to the police station  where they were being held.

Donde said the official called his wife from the police  station and
informed them of the arrest. The former MP  said they also talked to
Deborah, who assured them that  she was innocent.

The police are expected to complete their investigation  on Friday and
give their verdict on whether the  students would be charged with the
offence.

Donde did not disclose the identity of the other  student, saying it
was upon the parents of the victim  to do so.

'She was totally unaware of what was in the house'

He said Deborah had informed him that she and two other  students had
visited the residence of the Saudi Arabian  student when the local
police raided the premise.

"She was totally unaware of what was in the house when  she went
there. She has talked to her mother and  explained that in detail,
assuring us that she is  innocent," said Donde.

"We are crossing our fingers as we wait for the verdict  tomorrow
(Friday) because if they are convicted it  would be a big blow to us,"
he said.

Donde said he had disclosed the identity of his  daughter to assure
Kenyans that she was innocent.

He said Deborah told her mother how she and other  students were
shocked to see police carrying out four  kilos of the drug, with an
estimated street value  Sh140,722.

He defended his daughter against the claims, saying he  had known her
well and she does not handle drugs.

"She was in St Austin's Academy with her sister Eva and  I know she
cannot do that. Ask even former students at  the school," added Donde.

Officials at the ministry of foreign affairs said they  would issue a
statement on Friday.
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MAP posted-by: Derek