PUTRAJAYA: After three years of battling drug charges, singer-composer Yasin breathed a sigh of relief when he escaped life imprisonment and 16 strokes of the cane after the Court of Appeal ruled in his favour on Monday (April 28).
A three-judge panel chaired by Justice Datuk Che Mohd Ruzima Ghazali allowed Yasin’s final appeal and set aside the Shah Alam High Court’s sentence, Sinar Harian reports.
The other judges on the bench were Justices Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah and Datuk Azmi Ariffin.
In delivering the unanimous decision, Justice Che Mohd Ruzima said the court reinstated the ruling by the Petaling Jaya Sessions Court, which had previously acquitted and discharged him.
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The court also restored the Sessions Court order that Yasin, whose real name is Muhammad Yasin Sulaiman, be admitted to Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta, Perak, for a period to be determined at the Sultan of Selangor’s discretion.
Upon hearing the verdict, the 50-year-old singer blew a kiss at his family members and his lawyer Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik in celebration.
His 17-year-old daughter smiled and performed a sujud syukur (prostration in gratitude) in the court's public gallery.
On Nov 29, 2023, the Sessions Court acquitted and discharged Yasin on three charges under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952. It also ordered him to be placed under care at Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta at the Sultan's pleasure.
The prosecution then appealed against the acquittal.
On Aug 22 last year, he was sentenced to life imprisonment and 16 strokes of the cane by the Shah Alam High Court after being found guilty of the charges.
ALSO READ: Court frees singer Yasin of drug charges, orders him admitted to Hospital Bahagia
Yasin had been charged with the possession of cannabis-type drugs weighing 193.7g and sentenced to eight years’ jail and 10 strokes of the cane.
He was also found guilty of cultivating 17 cannabis plants in plastic pots at his residence and sentenced to life imprisonment and six strokes of the cane.
For a third charge of self-administering a dangerous drug, he was sentenced to 10 months' jail.
The High Court ordered the prison terms to run concurrently from the date he was arrested, March 24, 2022.
