Kota Kinabalu: A 30-year-old man charged with trafficking in 2.8kg of cannabis walked out as a free man, Thursday.
High Court Judge Datuk Ismail Brahim discharged and acquitted Yong Glen Ming of the charge without calling for his defence.
In delivering the ruling, Ismail held that the court was satisfied that the prosecution had failed to prove a prima facie case against Yong and that the element of knowledge was also not proved.
Yong, who worked in the marketing line, allegedly committed the offence at 2.30pm on Nov 25, 2020 at a lot, at Golden Hill Commercial Park, Mile 7.5 Jalan Tuaran in Inanam.
The charge under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act carries the death sentence or imprisonment for life and whipping not less than 15 strokes if not sentenced to death, on conviction.
Yong, who was defended by counsel Zahir Hussein Ahmad Shah appeared in tears of joy upon hearing the ruling.
Yong, who had been under remand since being arrested, thanked his counsel outside the court after the proceedings and said that the first thing he wanted to do was to see his three children.
Nine prosecution witnesses were called by Customs Deputy Public Prosecutor Nur Suriati Mohamad to testify at the prosecution stage.
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