KUALA LUMPUR: A former Malaysian diplomat and his son walked away as free men after the Temerloh High Court acquitted them of three drug-related charges, including the planting of 102 cannabis plants, four years ago. High Court judge Justice Roslan Mat Noor, in his ruling on Thursday, found that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against Datuk Zainal Abidin Alias, 82, and Mohamed Rizal Zainal Abidin, 56. In June 2022, the father and son were charged with three charges related to drug trafficking of 989.6 grams of cannabis, possession of THC-based oil, and the cultivation of 102 cannabis plants at a house in Janda Baik. "The High Court ruled that the prosecution failed to prove that the accused had exclusive control over the premises. He said the judge ordered that both Zainal Abidin and Mohamed Rizal be acquitted and discharged of all three charges without being called to enter their defence.

Source: The Star March 13, 2026 03:35 UTC