M'sian Detained For 30 Days In China After Helping To Hold A Friend's Bag At The Airport
Meanwhile, her friend flew back home.
By May Vin Ang — 21 Feb 2024, 04:02 PM
A Malaysian woman was detained in China for a month after she helped hold on to her friend's bag through an airport's immigration checkpoint
According to Harian Metro, 45-year-old Lisa Lim was returning to Malaysia after vacationing in Kunming, China, on 7 January.
"At the airport, my friend Datin Ng asked me to hold on to her bag because she had other baggage to take care of.
"Without thinking, I [agreed to] look after the bag before airport authorities stopped me at the immigration checkpoint.
"A large amount of Chinese medication, in the form of pills, was found in the bag," she told a press conference at Wisma MCA yesterday, 20 February.
From left to right: MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Seri Michael Chong, Lisa Lim, and MCA legal advisor James Ee.
Image via Harian MetroLim said despite the drug-sniffing dogs detecting no sign of narcotics, she was immediately detained by the Chinese authorities
Meanwhile, Lim's friend boarded her flight back to Malaysia.
"I was told that I would be released in three days, but I ended up being kept in lock-up for 30 days," said Lim, who said the ordeal has damaged her reputation and caused great stress to her and her family.
She was released on 7 February after the Chinese authorities were satisfied that she was not carrying any hard drugs.
Lim also said she was not allowed to contact family and friends during her time in detention.
She added that she confronted Ng over the issue, but was disregarded
"She didn't seem to care about what had happened to me and denied that there were medicines in the bag," said Lim.
MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Seri Michael Chong said Lim was fortunate to be freed and that there were no drugs in the bag involved.
"However, it was highly irresponsible for Ng not to care or bother about what happened," he said.
The department's legal advisor, James Ee, has advised Lim to take legal action against Ng.
