SEREMBAN: A 35-year-old welder was ordered by the High Court here to enter his defence on two drug trafficking charges while his three friends were acquitted.
Justice Rohani Ismail said in her judgment on Friday (Feb 28) that the prosecution had proven a prima facie case against Muhammad Shafiq Rohmat under Section 39B(1) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
"After perusing the evidence and conducting a comprehensive assessment, the court finds that a prima facie case has been established against the first accused.
"However, there is no prima facie case against the other three and they are hereby acquitted," she said.
If found guilty, Shafiq faces the death penalty, or 30 to 40 years in prison with caning.
The three others are unemployed Nor Maslisza Ramli, 33, welder Muhammad Azhar Ahmat@Ahmad, 33, and self-employed Shazuan Md Shariff, 35.
Shazuan (middle), Muhammad Azhar (on Shazuan's left) and Nor Masliza (standing behind the duo) with their lawyers after they released without having their defence called.
For the first charge, the four were charged with trafficking 68.7g of heroin in a hotel room here at 11.40am on May 7, 2021.
For the second, they were charged with trafficking 229.3g of methamphetamine at the same place, date and time.
All four accused had been under police custody since.
Rohani advised the three who were acquitted to be careful in picking their friends.
Met outside the court later, Shazuan said the first thing he wished to do was to visit his mother's grave in Felda Pasoh.
"I miss her very much.
"I am also happy that I will be able to spend Ramadan with my family after several years," he said.
Azhar said he was looking forward to reuniting with his two children, aged nine and seven.
"I am longing to embrace them. I am also looking forward to spending Hari Raya with them this time," he said.
Nurul Balqis Zunaidi prosecuted.
Shafiq was represented by Roseli Abdul Gani, Nor Maslisza by Paul Krishnaraja, Azhar by Puspanathan Sellam, and Shazuan by Haresh Mahadevan and Ramzani Idris.
