PUTRAJAYA: A mechanic convicted of trafficking in 10.53g of methamphetamine escaped the gallows after the Court of Appeal acquitted and discharged him here on Wednesday (Oct 19). A Court of Appeal three-judge panel led by Justice Datuk Seri Kamaludin Md Said, in acquitting and discharging Ben Khaled Abd Molok, ruled that the drug trafficking conviction against him was not safe. His lawyer Afiffuddin Ahmad Hafifi said because of his client's current condition, a medical officer had to certify that Ben Khaled was fit before the lashes could be meted out. According to Ben Khaled's other lawyer Hafizuddin Salehuddin, the mechanic became paralysed in 2020 due to tuberculosis which affected his spine. Justice Kamaludin then told Ben Khaled's lawyers that their client could go back to the High Court to seek further direction or substitution for the whipping sentence if he was certified unfit.

Source: The Star October 19, 2022 20:07 UTC