Malaysian Waiter To Hang For Trafficking Ganja

SHAH ALAM, Dec 28 (Bernama) -- The High Court here on Monday handed down the death sentence to a foodstall waiter after finding him guilty of trafficking in 622 grammes of ganja (cannabis) in 2003.

Judge Datuk Mohd Zaki Md Yasin when delivering his verdict said although the accused Shahrul Izani Suparman was below the age of 21 when arrested, he had no choice but to impose the death sentence as it was mandatory for drug trafficking offences.

Shahrul Izani, 25, was 19 years old when caught trafficking in ganja in Jalan Hj Othman Rantau Panjang, Klang at 10.15pm on Sept 25, 2003.

During the arrest, two packets of dried ganja leaves with the weight totalling 622 grammes were found in the basket of his motorcycle.

Touching on the Welfare Department's report on his case, Mohd Zaki said it could not exonerate him but would help his case when seeking a pardon.

The report had cited that he had no knowledge whether the packets contained drugs or alcohol and was merely acting as a paid courier for an acquintance who was a drug addict but his luck ran out on his third attempt to deliver the consignment.

It also said the accused, who himself was not involved in drug abuse and was a teetotaller, had been well-behaved while under remand.

It added that Shahrul had repented and wanted the court to be more lenient with him.

Mohd Zaki, however, reassured him the sentence would not be carried out until the appeal process was exhausted.

The accused was represented by counsel Suzanawati Ismail while the prosecution was conducted by Deputy Public Prosecutor Hazril Harun.

Source: http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsgeneral.php?id=464776