CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Lapu-Lapu Regional Trial Court (RTC) has found a Kenyan national guilty of delivery and transport almost three kilos of crystal methamphetamine hydrochloride or more commonly called “shabu”.
In his decision promulgated Monday afternoon, RTC Branch 27 Judge Toribio Quiwag imposed the life sentence on Asha Atieno Oguto, who was arrested September 29, 2011 in possession of about three kilos of shabu.
Judge Quiwag also directed Ogutu to pay a fine of P3 million.
Ogutu was arrested by the agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) when she arrived at the Mactan Cebu International Airport on board a flight from Doha, Qatar.
With the help of drug-sniffing dogs, the NBI agents found two packs of shabu, weighing around 1.5 kilos and wrapped in foil, concealed in the lining of Ogutu’s checked in trolley bag.
She was then charged with violation of section 5, Article 2 of the Republic Act 9165, also known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Act of 2002.
Under this law, those who engage in the sale, trading, administration, dispensation, delivery, distribution and transportation of dangerous drugs and/or controlled precursors and essential chemicals will face a penalty of life imprisonment to death and a fine ranging from P500,000 to P10 million.