SHAH ALAM:
Two men accused of drug trafficking three years ago walked free today, after they were acquitted by the High Court 1 here.
Sugumaran A/L Sretharan, 39, and Vegendran A/L Velu were discharged and acquitted by Yang Arif Dato’Haji Abdul Halim bin Aman at the end of Prosecution’s case without their defence being called.
The men were jointly charged under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code for trafficking 1,371.2 gram of heroin and 235.9g of Monoacetylmorphines in a rented house. If convicted, both men will be sentenced to death or if not sentenced to death, they will face imprisonment for life and whipping not less than 15 strokes.
They were also charged under Section 9(1) of the Poisons Act 1952 for having under their control 128,920g of caffeine. The offence is punishable by way a fine not exceeding RM3,000.00 or imprisonment up to one year or both.
They were detained after the arrest on August 20, 2016 as the offence was non-bailable.
9 witnesses were called to testify. At the end of the Prosecution’s case, it is the Defence’s submission that there were material and glaring contradictions in the evidence of key Prosecution’s witnesses which made their version to be disbelieved. The Prosecution in this case had also failed to prove exclusive possession or to exclude the possibility of others having access to the said house where drugs and poisons were discovered.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohd Asnawi bin Abu Hanipah prosecuted.