JUDGMENT

Zainun Ali J:

Decision

The facts of this case are mundane enough, representing much of the normal modus operandiof the police with regard to the ambush, apprehension, investigation and subsequent indictment of the accused person for a drug offence. Despite the many judicial observation and criticisms in past cases to certain investigative lapses, it is obvious that these have slid down, unheeded.

The facts of the case are these.

The police led by Inspector Mohd Zulkifli bin Daud laid an ambush on the target at Jalan Desa Jaya, Taman Desa Jaya, Johor Bahru on 2 November 1998 at about 7.30 p.m.. The police party comprised three groups which had various tasks of apprehending the target. A previous briefing given indicated that the target's vehicle is a Proton Wira car bearing registration number JFA 6182.

The police party reached the scene at 9 p.m.. According to the testimony of PW2 (Insp. Mohd. Zulkifli) he and his group rushed to the target, took out his ( p. Mohd. Zulkifli's) identification card, shouted that they are the police and tried to open the door of JFA 6182. It was locked from the inside. After about three minutes, the target, a Chinese male (the accused) opened