A former flight attendant and two of his accomplices were sentenced to life imprisonment and 18 strokes of the cane each by the High Court after being convicted of marijuana trafficking and cannabis cultivation. The trio’s offenses, committed four years ago, led to this severe punishment.
High Court Judge Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid passed the sentences on K. Karthik, 40, a former air steward; C. Praveen, 35, a former factory manager; and Muhammad Afiq Mohd Ali, 26, a former salesman. The judge ruled that the defense had failed to establish reasonable doubt in their cases.
The court sentences each accused to life imprisonment and 12 strokes of the cane for the first charge and life imprisonment with six strokes of the cane for the second charge, Judge Azhar said. He added that both sentences would run concurrently from their arrest date, December 14, 2021.
Representing the prosecution was Deputy Public Prosecutor Syajaratudur Abd Rahman, while the accused were defended by lawyers M. Mathavan, M. Manoharan, and Mohd Yusoff Awang Lah. The trial, which began in September 2023, included testimonies from ten prosecution witnesses and three defense witnesses, including the accused.
The first charge against the trio was trafficking 707.05 grams of marijuana at a condominium unit on Jalan Pantai Murni 7, Pantai Sentral, Brickfields, at 10 a.m. on December 14, 2021. They were charged under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which provides the death penalty under Section 39B(2). However, in this case, the sentence was reduced to life imprisonment. The charge was also read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code, indicating shared intent.
The second charge accused them of jointly cultivating cannabis plants at the same location, date, and time. This offense falls under Section 6B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, punishable under Section 6B(3) of the same Act. The law mandates life imprisonment and no fewer than six strokes of the cane for such offenses, again read in conjunction with Section 34 of the Penal Code.
The court’s decision reflects the gravity of drug-related offenses in Malaysia, where drug trafficking and cultivation carry some of the harshest penalties globally. By convicting the three, the authorities have reinforced their stance on combating illegal drug activities.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the severe consequences of involvement in drug crimes. Despite their prior professions, the accused now face the reality of spending their lives behind bars while enduring the physical punishment meted out as part of their sentence. The legal battle, which spanned over two years, highlights the complexities of drug trafficking cases and the strict enforcement of Malaysia's drug laws.
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