IPOH, July 2 (Bernama) -- A transport business owner was ordered to enter his defense, while his wife was acquitted and discharged by the High Court here today on charges of drug trafficking five years ago.
Mohinder Singh a/l Gurdial Singh, 50, and T K G. Peramla, 54, were accused of trafficking 524.1 gm of heroin and a type of morphine at a house in Bandar Baru Sri Klebang here, around 6.25 pm on Nov 22, 2019.
They were charged under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the death penalty or life imprisonment upon conviction.
Judge Datuk Abdul Wahab Mohamed, in his judgment, said he found that the prosecution had successfully proven a prima facie case against Mohinder while failing to do so in Peramla's case.
"My findings are that accused 1 (Mohinder) had knowledge... In other words, the prosecution has successfully proven that accused 1 had physical possession of the drugs," he said.
Mohinder faces four additional charges, including one for trafficking similar drugs weighing 1,322.9 gm at the same location, time, and date, under the same section.
The three other charges involve the distribution of poisons, namely 60.55 kg of powder containing caffeine, 93 ml of liquid containing caffeine, and 10.74 kg of powder containing Chloroquine, with all offences committed at the same place, time, and date.
He was charged under Section 9(1) of the Poison Act 1952, which provides for a fine not exceeding RM50,000 or imprisonment of up to five years, or both, upon conviction.
Deputy public prosecutors Saiful Akmal Mod Said and Liyana Zawani Mohd Radzi appeared for the prosecution, while both accused were represented by lawyers Wan Azwan Aiman Wan Fakhruddin, Effa Azuin Aidrul Hisham, and Hartrisha Kaur Sandhu.
A total of 15 prosecution witnesses were called to testify during the prosecution’s proceedings.
Meanwhile, Wan Azwan Aiman informed the court that Mohinder would testify during his upcoming trial.
The court scheduled Aug 28 and 29 for the trial, with four witnesses to be called, including the owner of the relevant house.
-- BERNAMA
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