By Dorcas Ting
KUCHING, Oct 30: The High Court today discharged and acquitted a female butcher of a charge of drug trafficking.
High Court Judge Dato Dr Alwi Abdul Wahab made the decision at the end of the prosecution’s case, with the key factor being a significant contradiction concerning the location where the drugs were discovered.
During the trial, the police testified that the illicit substances were found in a bag belonging to the accused. However, one of the prosecution’s witnesses claimed that the drugs were actually found hidden behind two freezers and in between them; the freezers were used to store minced pork.
Eight witnesses were summoned: a chemist, a photographer, the house owner, PDRM forensic experts, the raiding officer, raiding personnel, and an investigating officer.
The accused had been charged with the trafficking of 97.71g of methamphetamine. The alleged incident occurred at a residence in Taman Goodland, Betong, around 7.30 am on June 19, 2020.
The charges against the accused were filed under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which, upon conviction, included the possibility of a death sentence or life imprisonment, in addition to whipping.
During the trial, the accused was represented by Roger Chin, Osman Ibrahim, Nur Atiqah Kulah, and Ernie Natasha Azman, while Deputy Public Prosecutor Aidautul Azura Zainal Abidin led the prosecution’s case. — DayakDaily
