VIETNAM: APPEALS COURT COMMUTES DEATH SENTENCE ON AUSSIE DRUG TRAFFICKER

An appeals court in Vietnam commuted the death sentence of a 73-year-old Australian woman convicted of heroin trafficking.
The online state media outlet Vietnamnet quoted the People's High Court in Ho Chi Minh City as citing Nguyen Thi Huong's sincere confession and age for granting leniency. The sentence was reduced to life in prison at the appeals trial on November 21.
Court officials were not available for comment November 22.
Huong was sentenced to death in June after being convicted of trafficking 3.5 pounds of heroin.
She was arrested in December 2014 when checking in for a flight to Australia after the heroin was found hidden in 36 bars of soap in her luggage.