By Dorcas Ting
KUCHING, April 27: The High Court here hands down death sentence to a charge of drug trafficking involving two kilogrammes of syabu, or methamphetamine.
High Court Judge Azhahari Kamal Ramli found that the prosecution had successfully proven the case beyond reasonable doubt.
Tan Ming Ann, 48, was charged under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and punishable under Section 39B(2) of the same Act, which carries a death sentence or imprisonment for life and with whipping of not less than 15 strokes, upon conviction.
Tan was found guilty of trafficking 2,320.5kg of methamphetamine, at a courier center in Jalan Abang Abdul Rahim, at about 2pm on Feb 22, 2019.
According to the brief facts of the case, the accused was arrested by the Royal Malaysian Customs Department raiding team.
During the incident, the accused was collecting a parcel from a counter of a courier center. The Customs officers immediately approached him and introduced themselves.
Upon seeing the Customs officers, the accused threw the parcel that he had collected and tried to flee from the scene.
He was arrested together with the parcel that he had collected and was brought to the Kuching Customs Narcotics office for further investigation.
Further investigation found that there were three plastic bags in the parcel and there were crystal-like substances believed to be drugs, which were confirmed to be methamphetamine, in them.
During the investigation, the accused said he was instructed by an individual known as “Monkey” to pick up the parcel.
Justice Azhahari today in his decision said that “Monkey” was told by the investigating officer of the case but was never called by the defence counsel to testify in Court.
Therefore, Justice Azhahari said there is no evidence for the Court to believe the existence of such a person.
Customs Department Deputy Public Prosecutor Nabilah Ahmad Po’ad prosecuted while the accused was represented by counsels Daren Ling Hang Hui and Kenneth Yip. — DayakDaily
