PD beachboy escapes gallows, acquitted of drug trafficking charge

SEREMBAN: A 31-year-old beachboy who was facing the gallows for allegedly trafficking drugs has been acquitted and discharged by the High Court here on Wednesday (Nov 22).

Judge Datin Rohani Ismail freed Muhammad Hafizuddin Mohammad without asking him to enter his defence.

"The prosecution has failed to prove a prima facie case against the accused and the court hereby acquits and discharges him," she ruled.

For the first charge, the accused had allegedly trafficked 51.8kg of methamphetamine at around 7am along the beach at Batu 6, Jalan Pantai, Telok Kemang in Port Dickson.

For the second, he was charged with trafficking 13.7kg of methylenedioxymethamphetamine at the same place and time.

He was charged under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 punishable under Section 39(B) of the same legislation, which carries the death penalty upon conviction.

When met outside the court, Muhammad Hafizuddin said he was grateful.

"It has been tough since my arrest three years ago as my wife was left alone to care and provide for our three young children," he said.

Ala'uddin Baharom prosecuted while the accused was represented by Mohd Redzuan Mohamed Yusoff.

On May 18, 2020, the then Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department director Comm Datuk Ramli Din told reporters police had detained seven suspects and seized 112.7kg of illicit drugs in separate raids.

The drugs worth some RM7.2mil could be used by more than 500,000 addicts.

Comm Ramli said of the drugs seized, 80.8kg were syabu and 31.8kg were ecstasy pills.

He said a preliminary probe revealed that the drugs were being smuggled into Indonesia.