Two friends jailed for life for dealing methamphetamine
February 21, 2024
Two friends jailed for life for dealing methamphetamine
The judge handed down the sentence after finding that the defense failed to raise reasonable doubt against Lee Chuen Hoe, 44; and Chen Kok Kwong, 59; at the end of the defense case. - Decorative pictures
KUALA LUMPUR: Two friends were sentenced to life imprisonment by the High Court here today after being found guilty of distributing 305.1 grams of methamphetamine three years ago.
Judge Datuk Muhammad Jamil Hussin handed down the sentence after finding that the defense failed to raise reasonable doubt against Lee Chuen Hoe, 44; and Chen Kok Kwong, 59; at the end of the defense case.
"The court found that the drug was under the care and control of the first accused (Lee) and the second accused (Chen) and they knew the purpose of the drug (to be distributed). Therefore, both accused were found guilty of the charge.
"The first accused (Lee) was sentenced to life imprisonment and 12 lashes while the second accused (Chen) was sentenced to life imprisonment. The prison sentence starts from the date they were arrested on June 21, 2021," said Judge Muhammad Jamil.
In addition, Judge Muhammad Jamil discharged and acquitted the third accused, So Hoong Piau, 29, of the charge after finding that the defense succeeded in raising reasonable doubt against the accused.
The three accused were charged with jointly distributing the drug in front of the treatment centre, Ling Chiropractic Care, Jalan Perkasa, Aked Esplanad in Bukit Jalil, at 6.20pm, 21 June 2021.
The charge is under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 which is punishable under Section 39B(2) of the same act and read with Section 34 of the Penal Code, which carries the death penalty.
Last year, the court ordered the three friends to defend themselves after finding that the prosecution succeeded in proving a prima facie case against them at the end of the prosecution case.
The trial of the case at the prosecution level started on 13 March 2023 with six witnesses giving evidence while the trial at the defense level on 5 Dec 2023 involved seven witnesses giving evidence including the three accused.
Earlier, lawyer Syaheera Rosli represented Lee asking for a prison sentence since the death penalty had been abolished and his client provided good cooperation throughout the proceedings of the case.
Lawyer Manveer Singh representing Chen asked his client to be given a lower prison sentence due to his age and he has to support his mother.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Noor Dayana Mohamed requested that the two accused be sentenced to death by considering the public interest over the interest of the accused and the seriousness of the offence.
