Drug accused faces caning

[Lunar Loops]

Rather a strange title given the fact that the accused also faces 20 years in jail, I know which I consider to be the more severe of the two punishments. Singapore the last place on earth you want to get caught with anything (even poppy seed bread is illegal). Anyway, this article from news.com.au (http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599...68-401,00.html) :

Drug accused faces caning

January 16, 2007 06:38pm

A SOUTH Australian man charged with trafficking cannabis in Singapore faces up to 20 years in jail and 15 strokes of the cane.
Michael Karras was arrested earlier this month, not long after the first anniversary of the death of Melbourne man Nguyen Tuong Van, who was hanged for heroin smuggling in Singapore in 2005.
Mr Karras, 38, is accused of trafficking 495 grams of cannabis and was arrested on January 9 at an apartment in eastern Singapore, according to his charge sheet.
The drug was allegedly found in four flat slabs.
If found guilty, Mr Karras faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in jail plus 15 strokes of the cane.
The amount of cannabis allegedly found is crucial because under Singapore's tough drug laws trafficking 500 grams of cannabis would be punishable by death.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) confirmed the arrest of an Australian man on drug-related charges but did not name him.
"We can confirm that a 38-year-old man from South Australia has been arrested in Singapore for alleged drug-related offences," a spokesman said.
"At present it is unclear what charges the man will face and until charges are confirmed it would be inappropriate to comment on the possible penalty."
Australian officials are providing consular assistance to Mr Karras and his family in Australia.
Nguyen was hanged on December 2, 2005, after his conviction for trafficking nearly 400 grams of heroin.
His death caused a major outcry in Australia and prompted an unsuccessful campaign to save him from the gallows.
Singapore went ahead with the punishment despite repeated pleas for his life from Prime Minister John Howard and other leading figures.
Nguyen was caught Changi Airport in 2002 carrying nearly 400 grams of the drug while in transit from Cambodia to his home in Melbourne.