Mexico City, Mexico — Three Mexican nationals who were sentenced to death in Malaysia have been pardoned and returned to the country.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports that the three Mexican citizens were repatriated from Malaysia after receiving a pardon from the Sultan of Johor State. The three were arrested in Malaysia in 2008 on drug charges and sentenced to death in 2012.
The Government of Mexico says it recognizes the humanitarian action of Sultan Ibrahim Ismail Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar Al-Haj, who last September, announced his decision to commute the death penalty against the three Mexican men.
The Foreign Ministry reiterates its commitment to provide assistance and consular protection to Mexicans abroad, noting that Government of Mexico opposes the death penalty.
In March of 2008, the men, who are from the Mexican state of Sinaloa, were arrested in Johor by the Royal Malaysian Police counter-narcotics brigade who said they seized nearly 29 kilos of methamphetamine.
Their arrest happened inside a production factory where they worked, however, they always maintained their innocence saying they were without a criminal record in Mexico and used as “scapegoats” since they did not speak the language and had no way to properly defend themselves in the Malaysian legal system.
In 2012, the trio were sentenced to death by hanging. The three have since returned to Mexico.
