China court sentences Japanese man to death -Kyodo

TOKYO, Dec 29 (Reuters) A Japanese man has been sentenced to death by a court in northeastern China on charges of trying to smuggle 1.5 kg of drugs to Japan in 2003, Kyodo news agency reported today, citing Japanese officials.

The man, identified only as a being in his 40s, pleaded not guilty and plans to appeal the ruling, Kyodo cited officials of the Dalian Branch Office of the Japanese Consulate General in Shenyang as saying.

The defendant was detained at Dalian airport in July 2003 for alleged possession of the drugs when he was about to board a flight to Osaka, the officials said.

The man was quoted as saying somebody had asked him to carry them and that he did not know they were stimulant drugs. The report did not specify the type of drug.

The ruling was handed down yesterday, the officials said.

REUTERS PDM VV1647