KUCHING, Oct 24: A married couple’s respective appeals against their death sentences for drug trafficking resulted in vastly different outcomes yesterday.
First appellant Chong Joon Hong and second appellant Lucy Jemat, were charged with three counts of drugs trafficking offences under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drug Act 1952.
They were charged with trafficking Nimetazepam weighing 79.79 grammes, Ketamine weighing 302.49 grams and 3,4 Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) weighing 68.82 grams on March 26, 2013 at about 2.30pm at a house in Jalan Datuk Mohd Musa.
Both were convicted of drug trafficking and sentenced to death by the High Court, which was upheld by the Court of Appeal. They subsequently filed appeals in the Federal Court here.
Yesterday, Chief Justice Tan Sri Richard Malanjum, who chaired the five-man bench, said the panel unanimously dismissed the first appellant’s appeal and affirmed the judgement of the Federal Court of Appeal and High Court. For the second appellant, the panel found there was no element of common intention and allowed the appeal with the conviction and sentence imposed on all the charges set aside and the appellant discharged and acquitted.
Other judges were the Court of Appeal president Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Ahmad Maarop, Judge Tan Sri Zaharah Ibrahim, Judge Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Ramly Ali, and Judge Dato’ Rohana Yusuf.
Both appellants were represented by counsels Roger Chin and Osman Ibrahim. — DayakDaily
