Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., November 27, 2008 Cheshvan 29, 5769 | | Israel Time: 01:34 (EST+7)   Back to Homepage web haaretz.com Haaretz Toolbar Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate GA 2008 Travel Week's End Anglo File

Thai court sentences two Israelis to death for drug smuggling; Foreign Ministry to intervene By Barak Ravid, Tomer Zarchin and Noah Kosharek A Thai court yesterday sentenced two Israelis to death after convicting them of smuggling drugs. Vladimir Akronik, 34, and Alon Makhlouf, 37, were arrested about a year ago during a large-scale police operation on Bangkok's Kao San Road, a popular destination for Israeli tourists. Advertisement They were caught with 23,000 ecstasy pills in their possession. The pills, which had been smuggled from Europe, were destined for sale in Japan, Australia and the United States. Thai police also arrested several other Israelis during the operation, but they were later released because they had no connection to the smuggling. The Foreign Ministry said it is following the case closely and is in contact with the men and their families. It noted that the men can appeal the sentence, and are expected to do so in the coming days. Ministry sources said an appeal would probably result in the death sentence being commuted to a prison term. "In recent years, no death sentence has been carried out in Thailand, and especially not against foreign nationals," explained one. If the death sentence were commuted to jail time, the two would have to serve the first third of it in a Thail prisoner, but could then be transferred to an Israeli jail, under the terms of an Israeli-Thai treaty. In 1997, a Thai court sentenced two other Israelis to death after convicting them of trying to smuggle 2.8 kilograms of cocaine. However, then-president Ezer Weizman lobbied the Thai king and eventually secured a pardon. Ministry sources said the only way for Akronik and Makhlouf to secure a pardon would be for current president Shimon Peres to do the same. The President's Residence said no request for Peres' intervention has yet been received. Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said she has not yet decided whether to personally intervene in the case, as she is awaiting a response to the Israeli embassy's inquiries to the Thai authorities. Alex Avidan, an Israeli Chabad emissary in Thailand who has been in contact with the prisoners, said the verdict came as a shock, because at the trial, two months ago, the prosecution's case had seemed weak. "The last time I saw them was two weeks ago," he said. "They were very optimistic, and so were we." Avidan added that death sentences are very rare in Thailand, but the country;s law enforcement agencies have recently been intensifying their war on drugs, and apparently seek to send a message via this sentence. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Who's missing? Haredi parties absent from Jerusalem coalition for first time in decades. 'Kavosh 2' Amid nuclear tensions, Iran says it successfully launched rocket.

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