Heading home: Muhammad Azhar (right) seen after being acquitted along with his two friends, at the High Court in Seremban. — Bernama
SEREMBAN: Three friends can now reunite with their families after the High Court discharged and acquitted them of two drug trafficking charges.
Justice Rohani Ismail made the ruling after the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against unemployed Nor Maslisza Ramli, 32, welder Muhammad Azhar Ahmat @Ahmad, 32, and self-employed Shazuan Md Sharif, 34, on the charges slapped against them four years ago.
However, the judge ordered another accused, Muhammad Shafiq Rohmat, 34, to enter his defence on the same charge.
“The first accused is ordered to enter his defence, while the others are acquitted without being called for defence.
“From now on, be mindful of the company you keep – associating with the wrong people can land you in trouble,” she said, Bernama reported.
They were charged with trafficking in 68.7g of heroin and 229.3g of methamphetamine at a hotel here at 11.40am on May 7, 2021.
The offence, framed under Section 39B(1) of the Dangerous Drugs Act, provides for the death penalty, or jail of up to 30 years and 15 strokes of the rotan if convicted.
Nor Maslisza Ramli, Muhammad Azhar and Shazuan told reporters later that they were grateful for their acquittal, describing it as a second chance at life.
“After four years in prison, I can finally celebrate Ramadan with my family. I can’t wait to see my two children, who are now nine and seven years old,” said Muhammad Azhar.
Shazuan said he wanted to visit his mother’s grave first.
The DPP was Nurul Balkis Zunaidi, while the defence team comprised Roseli Abdul Gani for Muhammad Syafiq, S. Paul Krishnaraja for Nor Maslisza, S. Puspanathan for Muhammad Azhar, and Haresh Mahadevan and Ramzani Idris for Shazuan.
