MALAYSIA: TWO MEN SENT TO THE GALLOWS FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING

October 27, 2021:

A boat operator and a labourer were sentenced to death by the Tawau High Court, Malaysia, on 26 October 2021 for trafficking 327.1gm of methamphetamine which was stored in formula milk boxes two years ago.
Judge Dr Lim Hock Leng handed down the sentence to Muhammad Taufiq Asis, 29, and his 33-year-old friend Ardiansyah Sudirman, a labourer.
The duo was found guilty of committing the offence at 1pm, on April 14, 2019, at the Old Jetty of the Old Customs and Immigration Quarantine Centre (CIQ).
Dr Lim held that the court was satisfied with the defence's failure to raise reasonable doubts over the prosecution of the case.
Dr Lim also held that the defence submitted that the duo were not at the scene and also submitted an alternative defence that they did not know the contents of the box.
Meanwhile, the prosecution managed to prove that the duo had knowledge of the drug and were involved in its trafficking.
The offence under Section 39B (1) (a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 carries a mandatory death sentence or life imprisonment and 15 strokes of the cane, if convicted. Deputy Prosecutor Mohammed Ali Imran prosecuted.
Taufiq was defended by counsel Andy Tay, while Ardiansyah was represented by assigned counsel Jhassary Kang.