Drug mule a buddy too

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SWEET: Janice Nicky Linden

Staff Reporters

TO THE world you were a drug smuggler, but to us you were a sweet, loving girl.

This is a message posted on Facebook by Noleen Brauns in memory of 37-year-old Janice Bronwyn Linden, also known as Nicky, shortly after she was executed in China yesterday for drug smuggling.

Brauns posted the heart-rending message at 6am, and asked friends and family to remember and pray for Linden, who grew up in Durban.

“Morning guys. To all of us that know Nick, could we please remember her in prayer as this is her last day. Let us remember that she is a child of God. We serve a Loving forgiving God. He loves her with all her faults. None of us without sin. Luv u Nicky,” said Brauns, “Nine months ago – The last nite of his (sic) life. We were sitting at Livingstone Hospital. Still feels like yesterday.

“That’s how I’ll remember you my dearest sweet Nicky. (I will) always luv u and think of u as (one) of my daughters… May our Lord pardon u my baby. MAY YOUR SOUL REST IN PEACE.”

INNOCENCE: Little Janice Linden

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Jenny Johnson posted: “It’s all in God’s hand now. We will keep her in our prayers.”

Leanne Jacobs said: “After all the stories settle and the media moves on (you) will always remain HIS beautiful crazy charismatic creation. R.I.P NICKY

“You will be missed and we will never forget all those precious moments we shared with (you).”

The spokesman for the Department of international relations, Clayson Monyela, said: “Her ashes have been given to a South African diplomat and will be handed over to her family.”

He said they had tried their best to save Linden’s life.

But the SA Human Rights Commission said the government’s foreign policy was focused more on trade with China. It did not consider human rights.

Janice Linden

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“When South Africa establishes trade and diplomatic relations with any country, it is absolutely imperative that human rights principles form one of the primary pillars of these relations,” said spokesman Vincent Moaga.

He said Linden’s sentence was “a violation of commonly accepted basic human rights, particularly the rights to life and dignity”.

He said the commission recognised China’s right to punish those found guilty of crimes, but it opposed the sentence

The IFP said the Chinese should have considered their trade relations with SA before executing Linden.

“With the current growing trade relations between China and South Africa, one would have hoped this relationship would have influenced China differently,” IFP MP Ben Skosana said.

The DA said the government had not done enough to prevent the execution.

“Whilst we firmly believe drug mules should be punished for their offences, this punishment does not fit the crime,” MP Stevens Mokgalapa said.

Linden died alone yesterday morning, and was informed of her execution only a short while before it was carried out, in accordance with Chinese policy.

Her two sisters, who visited her on Sunday, were not allowed to tell her that it was her last hours.

An emotional family member told The Star last night she was “tired and stressed by the whole thing”.

“This is too much,” she said, and ended the call.

Linden was arrested in China three years ago at the Baiyun International Airport with 3kg of tik in her bags.

She claimed she had been framed and would not admit to the crime, even though she would have served a term of life in jail.

Nephew of Janice Linden

Tearful words of Janice Linden

This week there has been quite a lot of debate about the execution of Janice Linden. Janice Bronwyn Linden was caught at Baiyun International Airport in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou in November 2008.
The Chinese don’t mess about when it comes to drug smuggling, something they consider to have “a very negative impact on society”. She was sentenced to death. She was convicted of smuggling 3 kilograms of TIK (it has a better name, but that was what it was.)
Of course the debate will always rage as to whether Janice was guilty or whether she was a pawn in something bigger.
I did not know Janice’s name until earlier this week, so I do not recall the 2008 story. But China is not for sissies, and if you are going to smuggle drugs in then you must be prepared for the serious high jump.
Hulle wat nie kak van kabouters af nie! And they like drugs like they like jam. And they jam fuckall it would seem.
Of all the places I think would be a bad place to smuggle drugs in to, my guess is really any way in the East is probably not a great idea. I have not done tons of research, but my guess is cross those areas off your “places to go with a bag of TIK” … just saying.
I am not sure where I stand on the death sentence. I do feel that there are certain crimes that are committed and certain criminals that will never be out of jail, never be able to fit back in to society. They will be career criminals and they are just not nice people.
I do feel that people should contribute to society, if not a total contribution like running out and saving a frog or finding a way to overcome world famine, then at the very least not make society a bitch for everyone else.
If you are unable to “fit in to society” without killing, raping or maiming someone, then my short answer is yes, you no longer get the right to live in society, and if you are not living …. then … that leaves limited options.
Do I think that gives someone the right to kill you? I am not 100% sure on that.
Do you think that the death sentence is the answer and is sufficient motivation to someone to not commit a particular crime? I am not sure, but it does cut down on having to see the same ijut in the legal system.
Do you think rapists and murders should be sentenced to death? Yes, especially if it is a crime against a child, then no mercy, I am thinking blunt forced trauma would be a suitable end.
Do I feel bad that a woman died in China? Yes.
Do I feel bad that the Chinese government stood up and made a decision, and were not going to allow foreigners to influence their decision-making? No.
Do I admire China that they are able to see a crime + issue a sentence + move it through promptly and with speed? Yes, definitely.
I do not know Janice. I do not know if she was guilty or not. But if she was in any way connected to smuggling drugs, then I am not totally disappointed that China has decided to meet out the death penalty for drug smuggling.
But in related news … A South African woman was arrested at Bangkok’s international airport after police said they found 1.5kg of cocaine hidden in her dreadlocks. Nbanda Nolubabalo, 23, was searched on Monday when police said they noticed a white substance in her hair shortly after she stepped off a Qatar Airways flight that originated in San Paulo and flew through Qatar to Suvarnabhumi Airport, the Bangkok Post said.
The search uncovered 1.5kg of cocaine with a street value of 4.5 million baht (about R1.2 million) hidden in her dreadlocks, authorities said.
Police said the suspect admitted smuggling the drug and said she had been hired for 60 000 baht to deliver it to a customer at a hotel in Bangkok.
Bangkok Officer: “It appears you have cocaine in your dreadlocks….”
Nobanda: “What? I know nothing about that. I am using a new hair treatment with all natural ingredients …. I know nothing about 1.5kg of cocaine in my hair … I thought it was dandruff build-up….honest ….”