By Dorcas Ting
KUCHING, Jan 13: A man accused of collecting a parcel containing cannabis has been cleared of the charge after the Sessions Court concluded the prosecution failed to eliminate doubt over what he knew was inside the package.
The decision, delivered on Jan 11, brought an end to a case that began in May 2023 when Aslahuddin Azwan Hud, then 31, was arrested moments after he picked up a parcel from a courier counter in Jalan Pending.
During the trial, Aslahuddin maintained that the parcel was ordered online and that he believed it contained a notebook. His account, which the prosecution did not fully pursue in its investigations, became a key factor in Judge Iris Awen Jon’s decision to acquit.
The court found that Aslahuddin’s testimony raised reasonable doubt about whether he knowingly possessed the 179.65 grams of cannabis seized by police, ruling that it would be unsafe to convict him under those circumstances.
Aslahuddin had faced a charge under the Dangerous Drugs Act that carries a heavy mandatory sentence upon conviction, including a lengthy jail term and whipping.
The prosecution had earlier succeeded in establishing a prima facie case in August 2025, requiring the accused to take the stand. Seven witnesses testified for the prosecution, while Aslahuddin served as the sole defence witness.
With yesterday’s (Jan 12) ruling, the court discharged and acquitted him, ending the proceedings without a conviction.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohamad Aiman Mutallib Mohamad Sharrif prosecuted the case while the accused was represented by Counsel Osman Ibrahim. — DayakDaily
