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Malaysian court acquits three men accused of trafficking over 4.5kg of drugs
🇲🇾 Malaysia /Crime & Justice

Malaysian court acquits three men accused of trafficking over 4.5kg of drugs

From Utusan Malaysia · () Malay

Translated from Malay, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • Three local men in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, have been acquitted of charges related to trafficking over 4.5 kilograms of ketamine and methamphetamine.
  • The High Court judge ruled that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against the accused.
  • The men were initially charged under a section of the Dangerous Drugs Act that carries the mandatory death penalty.

A Johor Bahru High Court has acquitted three local men of charges involving the trafficking of more than 4.5 kilograms of dangerous drugs, five years after their arrest. The ruling saw Tarji Suwoto, 65, Rojeb Imarom, 56, and Firdaus Hashim, 29, walk free after the court found the prosecution's case lacking.

According to witness testimony, regarding the vehicle issue, the first and second accused got out of a Toyota Hilux without carrying any items like the case items found in the house.

— Justice Kan Weng HinThe judge pointed out inconsistencies related to the accused's vehicle and the items found at the scene.

Justice Kan Weng Hin delivered the decision, stating that the prosecution had failed to prove a prima facie case against the three individuals. The judge noted discrepancies in the evidence presented, particularly concerning the presence and handling of the drugs found at the property. "According to witness testimony, regarding the vehicle issue, the first and second accused got out of a Toyota Hilux without carrying any items like the case items found in the house," the judge stated in his grounds for judgment.

The prosecution had alleged that the three men were jointly involved in trafficking 4,207.66 grams of ketamine and 369.14 grams of methamphetamine. The alleged offense occurred at a house in Kampung Teluk Ramunia, Sungai Rengit, Pengerang, Kota Tinggi, around 11 a.m. on June 27, 2021. Under Section 39B(1)(A) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, conviction for such an offense carries the mandatory death penalty or life imprisonment coupled with at least 12 strokes of the cane.

It cannot be that all three of them showed it; it must have been someone there.

— Justice Kan Weng HinThe judge questioned the prosecution's ability to prove that all three defendants were involved in presenting the drugs.

However, Justice Kan highlighted that the prosecution could not definitively prove who had shown the drugs, stating, "It cannot be that all three of them showed it; it must have been someone there." He concluded that these uncertainties created reasonable doubt, leading to the acquittal and discharge of the accused. The case was prosecuted by Deputy Public Prosecutor Umar Faiz Abdul Kohar, while the defense was represented by lawyers John Fernandez and Lydiana Mansor.

All this raises doubt and the prosecution failed to prove a prima facie case against the three accused, therefore, they are acquitted and discharged.

— Justice Kan Weng HinThe judge explained the legal basis for acquitting the defendants due to insufficient evidence.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Utusan Malaysia in Malay. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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