JOHOR BARU: Three mechanics walked free after the High Court acquitted them of drug trafficking charges involving more than 4.5kg of drugs.
Justice Kan Weng Hin discharged Tarji Suwoto, 65, Rojeb Imarom, 56, and Firdaus Hashim, 29, after ruling that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against them.
The trio had been charged with trafficking 4,207.66g of ketamine and 369.14g of methamphetamine at a house in Kampung Teluk Ramunia, Pengerang, at about 11am on June 27, 2021.
In his judgment, Justice Kan noted that the first and second accused had exited their vehicle empty-handed and were not carrying any of the drugs, which were later found inside a room in the house.
“It could not have been all three of them. It must have been someone else,” he said, adding that this created reasonable doubt.
The three were charged under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, punishable under Section 39B(2), which provides for the death penalty or life imprisonment and up to 12 strokes of the cane upon conviction.
The trial, which began on Aug 21, 2024, concluded on May 13 this year after the prosecution called five witnesses.
