Shanmathi Sashidharan
SHAH ALAM:
Sipame Olivier Manga, who was accused of drug trafficking 5 years ago walked free out of courtroom
today.
The Senegal national was acquitted and discharged by the High Court of Shah Alam at the end of
prosecution’s case without his defence being called.
YA Dato’ Sri Haji Abd. Halim Bin Aman held that the prosecution had failed to prove a prima facie
case against the Accused today.
Sipame was arrested in a student’s hostel at SS 15 Subang Jaya on 2nd July 2018. Police found drugs
inside the pocket of a Northern Rock jeans inside the Accused’s room as well as in a Celebrity Fitness
bag on a shoe shelf outside the same room.
He was charged with 2 charges under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act for trafficking 227
grammes of Cannabis and 2999 grammes of Cannabis, punishable under Section 39B(2) of the same
Act, which carries the death sentence or life imprisonment and whipping not less than 15 strokes, upon
conviction.
12 prosecution witnesses took the stand in this case.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Norhana Sahat prosecuted while Sipame was represented by Dato’ Geethan
Ram Vincent and Ms. Eu Kah Mun.
The defence had argued that there were material gaps in the prosecution’s case which were detrimental
to their case. Dato’ Geethan pointed out that the prosecution had failed to prove that the Accused had
control and/or custody and/or knowledge about the drugs and that the presumption that the Accused
had knowledge has been clearly rebutted. Further, he highlighted the prosecution’s failure to obtain the
complete CCTV footage at the material time and on the fact that other people had access to the room
where the drugs were found.