GEORGE TOWN: A beautician from India was sentenced to death by a High Court here for trafficking in 1.6kg of drugs in 2013.

Judicial Commissioner Datuk Azmi Ariffin said the prosecution had succeeded in its case against Sangeeta Sharma Brahmacharimayum, 41.

He said evidence showed that Sangeeta, a former sister-in-law of the Delhi Deputy Inspector-General of Police, had knowledge of the drugs found in her luggage.

Sangeeta, from New Delhi, was charged on Oct 20, 2013, with trafficking in 1,637.1gm of methamphetamine at about 1am on Oct 7, 2013 at the domestic arrival area of the Penang International Airport.

She was charged under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 that carries the mandatory death sentence.

Defence counsel S. Yagoo represented the accused while DPP Amir Hamzah Othman appeared for the prosecution.

Sangeeta appeared subdued when the decision was conveyed to her by a court interpreter.

When the court stood down, she sat in the dock and broke down in tears.