Batswana students released from Malaysian jail

CHANDAPIWA BAPUTAKI
Staff Writer | Friday January 15, 2010 00:00

Godfrey Kalanke, the public relations officer in the ministry revealed that the five who were arrested after testing positive for drugs were released on Monday on condition that they be re-tested again on February 11.  He further revealed that the five who were not in possession of their passports were released on Wednesday with the help of the Botswana education attache who made it possible for their passports to be availed to the authorities.

'We met with all their parents today to brief them on the latest developments while we are still waiting for a fully detailed report from the education attache on what really happened. Once we have the full report we will get some direction,' he said.

Malaysian students have been dogged by drugs scandals for the past two years with two female students spending over six months in a Malaysian prison for possession of drugs last year. According to Kalanke, the students were released on December 29, after the judiciary dismissed the case for lack of evidence against them.

'The ministry is concerned about these cases of alleged drug use in Malaysia,' he said.  After the students were arrested Ministry officials had to take a trip to assess the situation. Kalanke said the intention is to get to the root of the problem.