An Australian of Vietnamese origin has been sentenced to death in Vietnam for possessing more than four kilos of heroin.
Pham Trung Dung was arrested in May last year when customs officials reportedly found the heroin in his luggage as he was boarding a flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Australia.
Dung has claimed he was hired by an unidentified man to carry the heroin and was paid $40,000.
Possessing or trafficking 100 grams of heroin is punishable by death in Vietnam.
A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs told SBS the government is offering assistance to Dung.
“We understand that he has the right of appeal. Whether he decides to do so is a matter for the man and his lawyers.
“The Australian Consulate-General in Ho Chi Minh City is closely monitoring the case and providing all possible assistance.”
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop also confirmed that Australian authorities are working on Dung's case, but did not further elaborate.
“I don’t want to do anything that would harm the work that is being done by our diplomats," News Corp quoted her as saying.
