3 freed after no-show by prosecutor

Three Malaysians facing a mandatory death sentence if convicted of drug trafficking walked free from court after the prosecutor failed to show up for their trial, a lawyer said Wednesday.

High Court judge Muhamad Ideres Muhamad Rapee in the central Ipoh town discharged the three on Tuesday when the prosecutor did not arrive, defense counsel Gurbachan Singh said.

But the discharge means charges have not been dropped and they can be re-arrested later, Gurbachan said.

"I believe they (police) will re-arrest them _ (if) they can find them," he said.

The three were charged with trafficking more than 6.6 pounds of cannabis in 2003. The offense carries a mandatory death sentence if convicted.