Malaysia Court of Appeal: A Full Bench of Kamardin Hashim, Hanipah Farikullah, Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah, JCA dismissed the appeal filed by a person who was convicted for drug trafficking and affirmed the conviction and sentence of the death penalty by High Court.
The appellant was a Thai national female who was found in the possession of drugs and she was trying to hide it by sitting on it. When cops did the body check of appellant then drugs were found. She was charged under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act, 1952. The learned trial judge invoked the statutory presumption under Section 37(da)(ix) of the Act based on the weight of the drugs which was more than 40 grams of Cocaine, and sentenced her to death penalty. The said order was challenged in this appeal.
The appellant argued that drugs could have been left by the previous guest and also there are chances that police may fabricate evidence against her but there was no reason for police to do that. She also emphasized that her luggage was scanned at the airport and nothing incriminating was found. But the argument was made that there is a possibility she got possession of drugs after she left airport.
The respondent argued that they got information about drugs so they checked the room acting on that information they checked the room and drugs were found in that room. Drugs found were sent for check which confirmed the presence of cocaine in those things which further affirms the allegation on the appellant. Moreover, there will be no reason to defame a person who had just arrived in a country.
The Court opined that High Court had analysed all the witness and was satisfied there was no break in chain of evidence to the drugs produced and identified by prosecution witness in court. The High Court Judge had relied on the conduct of appellant in concealing the drugs by sitting on them, which established that she had knowledge about it.
Giving due regard to appreciation of evidence by the High Court and circumstances of this case, the Court held the appellant guilty for trafficking charges without any reasonable doubt. The court also remarked that it is illogical for the person to leave such valuable drugs in the room. It was opined that there was no merit in the appeal and also the arguments made by the appellant. [Napalai Narapattarawong v. Public Prosecutor, 2019 SCC OnLine MYCA 3, decided on 24-09-2019]
what is the effect of killing the smugglers?