Former store manager freed of drug-trafficking charge

KUALA LUMPUR: The Klang High Court acquitted and discharged a former store manager of a drug-trafficking charge on Friday (Feb 16).

Judge Norliza Othman ordered Kumaresan Munusamy, 29, to be freed after finding that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie at the end of the prosecution case.

In the judgment, Judge Norliza said the prosecution failed to prove that the drug was under the control of the accused at the time of the incident.

Kumaresan was charged with trafficking 39kg of cannabis in a squatter house behind a Chinese temple at Jalan Melawis, Klang here at 8pm on Nov 11, 2021.

The charge, framed under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, provides the death penalty or life imprisonment and whipping with not less than 12 lashes if not punished with the death penalty, if convicted.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Farah Aqilah Ahmad Fuad prosecuted, while lawyer Sivahnanthan Ragava represented the accused. - Bernama