Two Israelis Sentenced to Death

Thailand: Two Israelis that were convicted of drug trafficking were sentenced to death Tuesday by a Thai court. The two men plan to appeal the sentence. The two Israelis, 34-year-old Vladimir Akronik and 37-year-old Alon Mahluf, were detained in Bangkok with the possession of 23,000 ecstasy pills about a year ago. Thai media reported that the two arrived in Thailand from Europe and were detained after authorities received information about them from American officials. Alex Avidan, who maintains contact with Israeli prisoners in Thailand, said, "Vladimir arrived in Thailand as an innocent backpacker, and a week later found himself imprisoned on drug trafficking charges. He told me he was entrapped. He said he arrived in Thailand in order to backpack, and someone asked him to hand over a key to someone else. He admitted that he was foolish." Avidan said that the death penalty in Thailand is very rare, noting that the gravest offence in the country is the abduction of minors, followed by drug trafficking. "The maximal penalty imposed on drug traffickers is indeed a death sentence, but I know Israelis who are in jail for drug trade offences," he said. Turning his attention to conditions at prison, Avidan said, "The policy of prisons all across the Far East is that inmates get a cement floor and 180 grams of rice to eat. Everything depends on outside help." Avidan also noted that the local Jewish community, headed by Chabad-Lubavitch Rabbi Nechemiah Wilhelm, has been assisting the two men. Meanwhile, Tzipi Livni is considering intervening on behalf of the Israelis in Thailand.