Jasmine Luong

Jasmine Luong, 34, is an Australian citizen originally from Vietnam who on May 19,2008 was sentenced to be executed by firing squad in Vietnam for drug offences. [http://www.zimbio.com/Ho+Chi+Minh+City+Vietnam/articles/69/Australian+Vietnamese+woman+Jasmine+Luong] The judges at the Court of Appeals in Ho Chi Minh City accepted that she should face the firing squad for trying to smuggle 1.55 kg of heroin into Australia from Vietnam. [http://www.thanhniennews.com/society/?catid=3&newsid=36894] Vietnam has some of the world's toughest drug laws. Those caught with more than 600 grams of heroin or 20 kilograms of opium face the death penalty. [ http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21234268-2702,00.html] The case has many similarities to that of fellow Australian Scott Rush.

To date no Australians have ever been put to death for drug offences in Vietnam, whichh would make Jasmine the first to be put to death if executed.

References