A SOUTH AFRICAN woman has been executed in China over drug-smuggling charges, despite a plea from Jacob Zuma to spare her life.
Janice Bronwyn Linden, 38, was arrested for attempting to sneak 3kg of methamphetamine into China through the city of Guangzhou in November 2008. In July 2009, she was convicted of drug trafficking and sentenced to death.
Linden, from KwaZulu-Natal, had insisted upon her innocence, saying that the drugs had been planted on her. However, both Guangdong High Court and Beijing’s Supreme Court rejected her appeal.
Two of Linden’s sisters were able to spend an hour with her before her death by lethal injection earlier today.
Human rights groups have condemned the country for imposing the death penalty, claiming that China’s legal system offers no guarantee of a free trial, reports the BBC.
Although China ignored the South African President’s appeal for clemency, Zuma said that Linden’s death would not affect trade relations between the two nations, reports the Mail & Guardian.
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