Trader sentenced to death for drug trafficking

A trader was sentenced to death by the High Court here today after he was found guilty of trafficking in cannabis in March last year.

Judicial Commissioner Muhammad Jamil Hussin handed down the sentence on Hairul Fazli Mokhtar, 36, after the defence failed to raise reasonable doubts against the prosecution's case.

The offence was committed at Kedai Runcit Toh, No. 2 Bawah, Jalan Bukit Treh here, at 3pm on March 3 last year under Section 39B (1) (a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, and punishable under Section 39B (2) of the same Act which provides for the mandatory death sentence.

The accused's family members including his wife, who were present in court were seen wiping their tears throughout the proceedings while the accused appeared frail in the dock.

In his judgment, Muhammad Jamil said the prosecution had proven that the accused were in possession of the dangerous drugs.

"There were no reasonable grounds to say that the cannabis did not belong to the accused," he said.

A total of six prosecution witnesses and two defence witnesses testified during the trial.

The prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutor Muhammad Shukri Hussain while the accused was represented by counsel Lydiana Mansor.

-- BERNAMA