JUDGMENT

Avinder Singh Gill Ranjit Singh JC:

[Close of the Prosecution's Case: Section 180 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC)]

[1] These consolidated proceedings concern Case No JA-45A-36-03/2022 (1st Charge) and JA-45A-80-04/2022 (2nd Charge), heard together before this court. Trial commenced on 22 May 2025.

[2] The 1st Accused, Yuvanraj a/I Arumugam (OKT1), and the 2nd Accused, Harishwaran a/I Khiso Kumar (OKT2), are jointly charged with drug trafficking under s 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act (DDA) 1952 read with s 34 of the Penal Code,

[3] OKT2 additionally faces a separate charge of possession under s 6 of the DDA 1952 (punishable under s 39A(1) of the DDA 1952) for cannabis alleged to have been found on his person.

[4] Both accused were separately represented. Counsel for OKT1 filed written submissions on 25 May 2026 (Enclosure (encl) 117); Counsel for OKT2 filed on 27 May 2026 (encl 122), each praying for acquittal and discharge without the defence being called. The Prosecution filed submissions belatedly on 15 June 2026. Counsel for both Accused indicated they did not wish to reply. B. The Charges

[5] The 1st Charge, preferred jointly against both Accused, reads:

"Bahawa kamu bersama-sama pada 11 Jun 2021, jam lebih kurang 3.00 petang, bertempat di Hadapan Lif Tingkat 18, Perling Heights Apartment, Jalan Baiduri 1/2 Taman Baiduri 81200, di dalam daerah Johor Bahru di dalam Negeri Johor Darul Ta'zim, telah didapati memperedarkan dadah berbahaya, iaitu sejumlah bersih 8,805.90 gram jenis Cannabis, dan dengan 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 dan dibaca dengan s 34 Kanun Keseksaan."

[6] The 2nd Charge, preferred against OKT2 alone, reads:

"Bahawa kamu pada 11 Jun 2021, jam lebih kurang 3.00pm, bertempat di Hadapan Lif Tingkat 18, Perling Heights Apartment, Jalan Baiduri 1/2 Taman Baiduri 81200, di dalam daerah Johor Bahru di dalam Negeri Johor Darul Ta'zim, telah didapati dalam milikan kamu dadah berbahaya iaitu sejumlah berat bersih 49.30 gram jenis Cannabis dan dengan itu kamu telah melakukan satu kesalahan di bawah s 6 Akta Dadah Berbahaya dan boleh dihukum di bawah s 39A(1) Akta yang sama."

[7] The Prosecution called five witnesses and tendered 44 exhibits:

(a) SP1: SM Hamidah binti Shamsuddin (Storekeeper)

(b) SP2: Insp Sri Amutheyindran Chettiar (Arresting Officer, AO)

(c) SP3: Norashidah Omar (Chemist, Jabatan Kimia Malaysia)

(d) SP4: Sjn Guganathan a/I Maniam (Replacement Investigating Officer)

(e) SP5: Insp Aizat Zulfadli Hassan Bakri (Original Investigating Officer).

[8] SP2 led a team of approximately 10 plainclothes officers to Perling Heights Apartment on 11 June 2021, acting on information regarding drug activities. The team arrived between 1.30pm and 2.00pm and proceeded to Level 18 of the said building. Under cross-examination, SP2 confirmed all 10 officers were positioned "di ruangan hadapan akses pada lif tersebut, di hadapan ruangan lif tingkat 18": Notes of Evidence (NOE), p 67 of encl 115.

[9] SP2 testified that from his position near the access door to the lift lobby, he observed both Accused persons emerge from Unit L18-10, located approximately 20-30 metres away at the far end of the corridor. OKT1 was carrying a brown cardboard box (P7). SP2 testified that when the police identified themselves, both Accused persons attempted to flee and a struggle (pergelutan) ensued, during which the box fell, He further testified the box was closed but unsealed, and remained closed when it fell.

[10] The box was found to contain 9 packages of plant material, confirmed by SP3 (Chemist Report P39: AZ1 to AZ9) to be 8,805.90 grams nett of cannabis. A body search of OKT2 yielded a tin foil-wrapped packet from his front right jeans pocket, suspected to contain an unlawful substance.

[11] SP3 received three sealed boxes (AZHB-1, AZHB-2,