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2025 MarsdenLR 665
HIGH COURT MALAYA SHAH ALAM
PP – Appellant
Versus
SUKUMARAN SELVANATHAN & OTHER CASE – Respondent
[Criminal No: BA-45A-135-12/2022 BA-45A-122-12/2023 BA-45A-123-12/2023 & BA-45A-124-12/2023]
The prosecution must prove the identity and integrity of seized drugs beyond reasonable doubt, as unexplained discrepancies in evidence can lead to an acquittal.
Headnote:(A) Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 - Sections 39B(1)(a) and 39B(2) - Prosecution of accused for trafficking in dangerous drugs - Charges encompassed multiple cases involving similar transactions and conduct by the accused. (Paras 2 and 3)
(B) Criminal Procedure Code - Section 180 - Prima facie case requirement - The court must be satisfied that credible evidence exists warranting conviction before calling on the defence. (Paras 24 and 25)
Facts of the case:
The accused was charged with drug trafficking on four counts involving substantial amounts of heroin and methamphetamine, discovered during a police operation on 17 May 2021. (Paras 2-15)
Findings of Court:
The prosecution failed to prove that the identities of the seized drugs were intact, resulting in reasonable doubt regarding essential elements of the charges. (Paras 50 and 51)
Issues: The central issues included the identity and integrity of the seized drugs in light of significant discrepancies in weight. (Para 29)
Ratio Decidendi: The court determined that substantial unexplained discrepancies in drug weight led to a breakdown in the chain of evidence, thereby creating reasonable doubt about the charges. (Paras 46 and 47)
Result: Accused acquitted and discharged from all charges.
| Table of Content |
|---|
| 1. charges regarding drugs trafficking. (Para 1 , 2 , 3) |
| 2. prosecution and defence submissions on possession. (Para 20 , 21 , 22 , 23) |
| 3. evaluation of discrepancies in evidence. (Para 24 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37) |
| 4. importance of weight discrepancies in identity. (Para 38 , 39 , 40 , 41) |
| 5. chain of evidence and identity of exhibits. (Para 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46) |
| 6. failure to establish prima facie case. (Para 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53) |
Introduction
[1] On 24 January 2024, the learned Deputy of Public Prosecutor (DPP) applied for the abovesaid four (4) cases (ie Case No BA-45A-135- 12/2022, BA-45A-122-12/2023, BA-45A-123-12/2023 and BA-45A-124- 12/2023) to be heard together on the grounds that all four (4) cases involved similar transactions, same accused and even the dates of the commission of the offences are similar. The learned defence counsel raised no objections to the said application. Hence, this Court allowed the abovesaid four (4) cases to be heard together.
[2] In these four (4) cases, the accused was charged with the offences of drugs trafficking in dangerous drugs under s 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 ('the Act') and punishable under s 39B(2) of the Act.
[3] The charges against the accused read as follows:
Case No. BA-45A-135-12/2022
Bahawa kamu pada 17 May 2021 jam lebih kurang 2.15 petang di unit rumah No A-14-10, Eight Kinrara, Blok A, Jalan BK 5A/1, Bandar Kinrara, Puchong, dalam Daerah Petaling; di dalam Negeri Selangor Darul Ehsan telah didapati mengedar dadah berbahaya Heroin dengan berat 1758.9 gram dan Monoacetylmorphine dengan berat 601.0 gram. Oieh itu, kamu telah meiakukan satu kesalahan di bawah s 39B(1)(a) Akta Dadah Berbahaya 1952 dan boleh dihukum di bawah s 39B(2) Akta yang sama.
Case No. BA-45A-122-12/2023
Bahawa kamu pada 17 May 2021 jam lebih kurang 1.30 petang di tempat letak kenderaan no petak L4-24, Aras 3, Eight Kinrara, Blok A, Jalan BK 5A/1, Bandar Kinrara, Puchong, dalam Daerah Petaling, di dalam Negeri Selangor Darul Ehsan telah didapati memperedarkan dadah berbahaya sejumlah berat bersih 7732.7 gram Methamphetamine. Oieh itu, kamu telah meiakukan satu kesalahan di bawah s 39B(1)(a) Akta Dadah Berbahaya 1952 dan boleh dihukum di bawah s 39B(2) Akta yang sama.
Case No. BA-45A-123-12/2023
Bahawa kamu pada 17 May 2021 jam lebih kurang 1.30 petang di tempat letak kenderaan no petak L4-24, Aras 3, Eight Kinrara, Blok A, Jalan BK 5AJ1, Bandar Kinrara, Puchong, dalam Daerah Petaling, di dalam Negeri Selangor Darul Ehsan telah didapati mengedar dadah berbahaya Heroin dengan berat 186.5 gram dan Monoacetylmorphine dengan berat 37.0 gram. Oieh itu, kamu telah meiakukan satu kesalahan di bawah s 39B(1)(a) Akta Dadah Berbahaya 1952 dan boleh dihukum di bawah s 39B(2) Akta yang sama.
and Case No BA-45A-124-12/2023
Bahawa kamu pada 17 May 2021 jam lebih kurang 2.15 petang di unit rumah No A-14-10, Eight Kinrara, Blok A, Jalan BK 5A/1, Bandar Kinrara, Puchong, dalam Daerah Petaling, di dalam Negeri Selangor Darul Ehsan telah didapati memperedarkan dadah berbahaya sejumlah berat bersih 20575.6 gram Methamphetamine. Oleh itu, kamu telah melakukan satu kesalahan di bawah s 39B(1)(a) Akta Dadah Berbahaya 1952 dan boleh dihukum di bawah s 39B(2) Akta yang sama.
Prosecution Case
[3] A total of twelve (12) prosecution witnesses were called where their testimonies may be summarized as follows.
[4] On 17 May 2021, ASP Devendran a/I Muthukrishnan (PW11) from the Special Task Force of the Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department, Selangor, received information regarding drugs trafficking activities by an Indian syndicate which would take place in a grey colour Perodua Myvi bearing car registration number VFP 4957 ("the said car") at Aras 4, Eight Kinrara, Block A, Jalan BK 5A/1, Bandar Kinrara 47180 Puchong Malaysia ("the said car park").
[5] Acting on this information, at 12.00 noon the same day, PW11 conducted a short briefing with his team of seven
