Unofficial Translation
Excelsior
May 12, 2016.
P 14
The Sentence Does Not Damage Relations
The Ambassador of Malaysia to Mexico, Mohammad Azhar Bin Malzan, ruled out that the eventual fulfillment of the death sentence of three Mexicans detained since 2008 for drug trafficking affecting the bilateral relationship because this goes beyond a matter that has to do with a trial, which has met all of its instances of defense.
After delivery of his Letters of Credence to the President Enrique Peña Nieto, that acredit him as the new Ambassador, he recalled that in his country there is zero tolerance for drug trafficking and the brothers Luis Alfonso, Simon and Jose Regino Gonzalez Villareal violated this in March 2008 when they were found with almost 30 kilos of methamphetamine.
"From our point of view we have explored all legal routes for these three people who have been condemned in our country, we have given them a fair trial according to the rule of law in Malaysia."
"They know that we have zero tolerance for drugs, we inform visitors and warn them at the entry points and also during the flight that Malaysia has zero tolerance for drugs and narcotics."
"And whether this will affect our relationship, I don't think so because our relationship is really a strategic alliance between our two countries and goes far beyond a legal situation," he said.
At Press Conference at the National Palace, the diplomat pointed out that the three brothers sentenced to the gallows since 2012 have as a last instance to avoid death, to ask for forgiveness before the Clemency board of the Sultan of Johor, for having committed the offence in that State, one of the 13 that make up Malaysia.
"We have given opportunity to three Mexican nationals who have been sentenced, we have given them the due process and we have given access to the Ambassador of Mexico in Kuala Lumpur, Mr. Félix Corona, who has been extremely active for giving assistance to those citizens who are in jail".
"We are opening a route for them, a legal channel and the process now is to go to the Clemency Board, the trial is continuing and we will what happens now and we are open to discussion through our Ministry of Foreign Affairs and our Legal Directorate-General", he said.
Embassy of Malaysia
Mexico City
MEXICO
16 May 2016