Three labourers freed on drug trafficking charge
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IPOH: Three labourers walked free after the High Court here acquitted and discharged them of trafficking 61.63g of methamphetamine.
Justice Muhamad Ideres Muhamad Rapee ruled that the prosecution had failed to prove a clear case against friends Tang Kam Wah, 52, Loi Keen Mun, 28, and 29-year-old Chu Kwong Nian.
The trio were jointly accused of trafficking the drugs in a house at Regrouping Area in Menglembu here on May 15, 2005, at about 5pm.
If convicted, the three men would have faced the gallows under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
Among the grounds Justice Muhamad Ideres gave was the doubtful testimony of two police raiding officers who, during cross-examination, had denied detaining another man outside the same house.
Lead counsel Naran Singh had pointed out during the trial that this same man was later charged for drug possession at the same place.
Therefore, Justice Muhamad Ideres said this affected the credibility of the witnesses.
He added that doubt also arose because a police translator had testified failing to sign a search list of items found inside the house. He said that he was too tired to sign it.
Earlier, Justice Muhamad Ideres reminded the prosecution to follow the procedure of law instead of amending the charge without authentication.
He noted that there was a difference of 800 houses when the prosecution amended the charge sheet from House No 1990 to House No 1190.
Lawyers Jagjit Singh, Naran Singh and Rajit Singh Gill represented Tang, Loi and Chu respectively. Deputy Public Prosecutor Siti Fatimah Talib appeared for the prosecution.