ANN/THE STAR – Two friends escaped the gallows after the Court of Appeal set aside their convictions, on two counts of trafficking 626.55 grammes of methamphetamine, five years ago.
However, Mohd Shazril Hafez Ibrahim, 29, and Ahmad Sawal Ramle, 32, as appellants, were convicted of possessing the drug, and were each sentenced to 12 years in prison and 10 strokes of the cane.
A three-judge panel, led by Justice Kamaludin Md Said, unanimously made the decision after lawyer Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, representing both appellants, informed the court that the Attorney General’s Chambers accepted their representation to waive the death sentence for trafficking to possessing the drug.
“After deliberating the mitigation of the two appellants, both are sentenced to 12 years in prison and 10 strokes of the cane each, starting from the date of arrest on February 8, 2018,” said Justice Kamaludin.
Also presiding the panel were Justices Supang Lian and Ahmad Nasfy Yasin.
According to the two charges, they were jointly charged with possessing 626.55 grammes of methamphetamine in the front room of a house in Jalan Kuala Berang, Kampung Padang Midin, Bukit Payong, Marang, Terengganu at 6.30pm, February 8, 2018.
The charges were framed under Section 12(2) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, and can be punished under Section 39A(2) of the same law, and read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code which carries a life sentence or not less than five years’ imprisonment and a maximum of 10 strokes of the cane.
In January 2021, the Kuala Terengganu High Court sentenced the two men to death by hanging after they were found guilty of distributing 626.55 grammes of methamphetamine.
They were charged under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which can be punished according to Section 39B(2) of the same law, and read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code which carries the death penalty.
