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2023 MarsdenLR 1481
HIGH COURT MALAYA SEREMBAN
PP – Appellant
Versus
RADHAKRISHNAM SYAM & ORS AND ANOTHER CASE – Respondent
[Criminal Trial Nos: NA45A-5-05/2019 & NA45-3-05/2019]
The court established that possession of drugs requires both physical custody and knowledge of their nature, affirming liability for drug trafficking under common intention.
Headnote:(A) Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 - Section 39B(1)(c) and Section 9(1) - Poisons Act 1952 - Drug trafficking and possession charges against five Indian nationals for methamphetamine, ketamine, and pseudoephedrine - Prosecution established prima facie case of trafficking and possession through evidence of recovery and DNA - Court found no reasonable doubt raised by defense regarding access to premises or knowledge of drugs - Conviction upheld with mandatory death sentence for trafficking and four-year imprisonment for possession. (Paras 69, 110, 117)
(B) Possession - Essential elements of possession include physical custody and knowledge of the nature of the substance - The court ruled that the evidence sufficiently demonstrated both elements were met despite the defense's claims of lack of access. (Paras 28, 49, 114)
(C) Common intention - Liability under Section 34 of the Penal Code established as all accused persons acted in furtherance of a common intention to traffic drugs. (Paras 51, 53)
| Table of Content |
|---|
| 1. accused charged with drug trafficking. (Para 1 , 2 , 3) |
| 2. police raid reveals drug manufacturing lab. (Para 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8) |
| 3. dna evidence links accused to drugs. (Para 9 , 10 , 11 , 12) |
| 4. definition of trafficking under dda. (Para 14 , 15) |
| 5. possession essential for trafficking. (Para 19 , 20 , 24 , 25) |
| 6. mental element required for possession. (Para 22 , 23) |
| 7. evidence of possession established. (Para 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33) |
| 8. dna evidence supports presence in building. (Para 34 , 35 , 36 , 37) |
| 9. possession can be joint. (Para 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43) |
| 10. mens rea inferred from circumstances. (Para 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49) |
| 11. common intention under criminal liability. (Para 51 , 52) |
| 12. keeping drugs constitutes trafficking. (Para 54 , 55) |
| 13. possession of pseudoephedrine proven. (Para 72 , 73 , 74 , 75 , 76) |
| 14. conviction and sentencing of accused. (Para 110 , 111) |
Introduction
[1] The five accused persons in this case were apprehended in connection with a suspected illegal methamphetamine laboratory located deep in an oil palm plantation located near the town of Rantau. The five accused persons were Indian nationals.
[2] They were charged with with two counts of drug trafficking under s 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and one count of possession of a substance regulated under the Poisons Act 1952 .
Background Facts
The Charges
[3] The accused persons stood accused of trafficking 1,510.17 grams of methamphetamine and 2,789.56 grams of ketamine. They were also charged with possession of pseudoephedrine under s 9(1) of the Poisons Act 1952 . The three charges against the accused persons read as follows:
The methamphetamine charge
"Bahawa kamu bersama-sama pada 3 Ogos 2018 jam lebih kurang 6.30 petang, bertempat di rumah Lot 3619 Kawasan Takau Mukim Linggi, di dalam daerah Port Dickson, di dalam negeri, Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus, telah didapati mengedar dadah berbahaya jenis "Methamphetamine" berat bersih 1510.17 gram. Dengan itu kamu telah melakukan satu kesalahan di bawah s 39B(1)(C) Akta Dadah Berbahaya 1952 dan boleh dihukum di bawah s 39B(2) Akta yang sama dan dibaca bersama s 34 Kanun Keseksaan"
The ketamine charge
"Bahawa kamu bersama-sama pada 3 Ogos 2018 jam lebih kurang 6.30 petang, bertempat di rumah Lot 3619 Kawasan Takau Mukim Linggi, di dalam daerah Port Dickson, di dalam negeri, Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus, telah didapati mengedar dadah berbahaya jenis "Ketamine" berat bersih 2789.56 gram. Dengan itu kamu telah melakukan satu kesalahan di bawah s 39B(1)(C) Akta Dadah Berbahaya 1952 dan boleh dihukum di bawah s 39B(2) Akta yang sama dan dibaca bersama s 34 Kanun Keseksaan"
The pseudoephedrine charge
"Bahawa kamu bersama-sama pada 3 Ogos 2018 jam lebih kurang 6.30 petang, bertempat di rumah Lot 3619 Kawasan Takau Mukim Linggi, di dalam daerah Port Dickson, di dalam negeri, Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus, telah ada dalam milikan kamu bersama-sama bahan yang mengandungi "Pseudoephedrine" dengan berat bersih 996.2 gram. Dengan itu kamu telah melakukan satu kesalahan di bawah s 9(1) Akta Racun 1952 dan boleh dihukum di bawah s 32(2) Akta yang sama dan dibaca bersama s 34 Kanun Keseksaan"
The Raid
[4] A police raid was conducted on 3 August 2018 at about 6.20pm at the Seri Mariamman temple located on Jalan Rantau - Linggi, based on intelligence received by the police. The first accused, Radhakrishnan Syam, was apprehended together with one Rajan A/L Gaju at the Seri Mariamman temple, when they were filling a water container carried on a Mazda pick-up truck.
[5] Rajan and Radhakrishnan led the police to a second location, which was located deep in an oil palm plantation, and which was accessible through a lane located at the side of the temple. This second location was fenced off with zinc sheets.
[6] When police raided the second site, they apprehended the second to fifth accused persons within the fenced area. Inside the fencing were a cement singlestorey building
