CA backs life term for drug smuggler

The Court of Appeals (CA) has affirmed the life sentence without parole handed down by a Manila judge against a Beninese man who swallowed 57 capsules containing 751 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride, or “shabu,” which he tried to sneak into the country in 2013.

In a 33-page decision dated Aug. 3, the appellate court’s Special 9th Division denied Akilou Alidou Bassi’s petition to reverse his conviction based on his claim that he was just framed by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation.

In the decision written by Justice Celia Librea-Leagogo, the court ruled that “without any shred of evidence to bolster his defense of denial and his allegation that he was framed… they are bereft of merit.”

“Aside from self-serving allegations, accused-appellant also failed to present proof to buttress his imputation of improper motive on the part of the NBI agents. In fact, accused-appellant testified that he does not know the NBI agents,” it added.

The other division members, Justices Nina Antonio-Valenzuela and Melchor Sadang, concurred in the ruling.

Bassi—said to be a drug mule of the notorious West African Drug Syndicate—was arrested in 2013 upon his arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia).

A Manila court found him guilty of transporting illegal drugs in violation of Section 5, Article II of Republic Act No. 9165  or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Bassi was then sentenced in September 2014 to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole and fined P2 million.

According to court records, the NBI received a tip that the citizen of Benin, one of the poorest countries in Africa, was coming to the country on June 5, 2013, to transport illegal drugs.

Upon his arrival at Naia, Bassi was immediately taken into custody but on the way to the NBI headquarters in Manila, he appeared sick, uneasy and complained of a stomach ache.

Agents brought him to a hospital where an X-ray examination showed capsule-like objects in his stomach. Bassi later passed 57 capsules which were tested by the NBI and found to contain 751 grams of shabu.