SIBU: The High Court here on Friday (Aug 19) discharged and acquitted a former car sales executive while ordered an unemployed man to enter his defence, for a joint charge of trafficking methamphetamine.
Michael Loh, 57, from Jalan Oya was relieved upon hearing his accquittal from the charge by High Court judge Christopher Chin Soo Yin.
Loh was immediately surrounded by his family members outside the court room.
However, Judge Chin ordered Loi Kwong Kiat, 53, from Lorong Selasih Timur to enter his defence.
According to the charge sheet, the accused were jointly charged with trafficking 65.94g of methamphetamine at a room in Lorong Tun Ahmad Zaidi Adruce at about 2.30am on July 7, 2020.
The offence was committed under paragraph 39B(1)(a)of Dangerous Drugs Act, 1952 (Act 234), and punishable under subsection 39B(2) of the same Act, read together with section 34 of the Penal Code.
The Act reads, “Any person who contravenes any of the provisions of subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence against this Act and shall be punished on conviction with death or imprisonment for life and shall, if he is not sentenced to death, be punished with whipping of not less than 15 strokes.”
Judge Chin set aside two days of hearing on Oct 31 and Nov 1 at 9am for Loi’s defence.
The prosecution was handled by deputy public prosecutor Mark Kenneth Netto and a total of 10 prosecution witnesses were called up.
Loh was represented by legal counsel Orlando Chua while Loi by lawyer Rosli Gapor.
