KUALA LUMPUR: Three men have been sentenced to life imprisonment and 12 strokes of the cane each after they were found guilty of trafficking over 32kg of drugs six years ago.
High Court judge Justice Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid imposed the sentence after finding that the defence failed to raise reasonable doubt on behalf of tow truck drivers S. Uvaraja, 48, and R. Kalaikumar, 40, and lorry driver K. Paarthiban, 38, at the end of its case.
"The court orders the three accused to be jailed from the date of arrest on June 18, 2019," Justice Azhar said on Tuesday (May 6).
The three men were charged with jointly trafficking 32,682.4 grammes (32.68kg) of methamphetamine in the car park of a condominium in Jalan Desa Pandan here at 5.35pm on the day they were arrested.
The charge was brought under Section 39B (1) (a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, punishable under Section 39B (2) of the same Act and read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code.
They faced either the death penalty, or life imprisonment and at least 12 strokes of the cane, upon conviction.
Justice Azhar also sentenced Uvaraja to two years in prison after finding him guilty on two counts of possessing methylenedioxymethamphetamine, heroin and monoacetylmorphines at the same location and date.
The offence, under Section 12 (2) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 punishable under Section 12 (3), provided for a fine of up to RM100,000, or up to five years' jail, or both upon conviction.
The prosecution was conducted by DPP Wan Ahmad Hijrah Wan Abdullah while the three accused were represented by Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah. – Bernama
