By Wendy John
SIBU, Dec 17: A 34-year-old man walked out of the High Court today after he was discharged and acquitted of trafficking in dangerous drugs.
Pau Chu Thong of Mukah could not contain his happiness, shedding tears after hearing the verdict passed by Justice Supang Lian.
He was charged under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and punishable under Section 39B(2) of the same Act with trafficking 75.26 grams of Methamphetamine in front of a shop at Selangau-Mukah junction, KM82, Sibu-Bintulu route, Mukah at about 11am on Aug 14, 2015.
Supang found that there was no prima facie against the accused at the end of the prosecution case in March 2017 and subsequently acquitted and discharged him.
At the time, the accused was represented by Orlando Chua.
But the prosecution appealed against the decision, bringing it to the Court of Appeal in Kuching.
The Court of Appeal, after considering all the evidence adduced, reverted the decision on June 25 last year and ordered the accused to enter his defence.
The defence case on 13 March this year was heard by Supang.
After evaluating the defence’s evidence, Supang adduced that the defence had raised reasonable doubt by virtue of Section 27 of the Evidence Act.
Pau was represented by Yap Hoi Liong in the defence case. DPP Mohd Fillanny Siji appeared for the prosecution. —DayakDaily
