Mum facing execution in Malaysia is back in court
31 March 2011
A COURT hearing is being held today (Thursday) for Shivaun Orton, a Harlech woman facing execution in Malaysia.
The mum-of-two and her husband, Abdul Harris Fadilah, have been held in an Asian jail since they were arrested in December on suspicion of drug trafficking after police carried out a raid on their home in Cherating.
She pleaded not guilty to eight charges of drug trafficking and possessing cannabis, amphetamine and heroin at an earlier court hearing in January.
Chemistry reports have now been submitted to the courts to allow for a further hearing.
Police seized £16,000 worth of drugs from the beach resort the couple ran in the northern state of Terengganu, includ-ing 225g of heroin.
Under Malaysian law, the offence of possessing more than 15g of heroin carries the death penalty, and if found guilty, Shivaun, 41, could be hanged.
Her family, who have be-gun a Facebook campaign in support of Shivaun, have said that she is in good health and seeing her sons Jacob, 16, and Isaac, 14, most weeks.
Her brother Daniel said the family have been in contact with the Foreign Office. He said: “[the Foreign Office representative] said that Shivaun is in good spirits and he told her about this Facebook campaign to raise awareness for her situation.
“It must be very difficult for her - not knowing what her future holds and perhaps being scared to even hope in case hope is dashed.
“I am glad that she knows that we are here for her and that we will continue to support her and her children, and that she is not forgotten about but is forefront in our minds and prayers.”
Her family say she is a victim of a controlling marriage, and MP Elfyn Llwyd has also been supporting Shivaun and has met with the family.
The Prime Minister, David Cameron, has also given his backing over Shivaun’s case, and arranged for the minister in the Foreign and Common-wealth Office to look into her case.
Pictured: Shivaun Orton pictured here in 1997 with her eldest son.
Thursday 31 March 2011
Mum facing execution in Malaysia is back in court | News
