Former Fruit Seller Escapes Death After Court Finds Him Guilty For Drug Possession

SHAH ALAM (Malaysia), Aug 30 (Bernama) -- A former fruit seller who was charged with drug trafficking escaped the hangman’s noose today when the High Court here found him guilty of an amended charge for drug possession. Judge Nurulhuda Nur’aini Mohamad Nor sentenced Cheng Kui Fat, 29, to five years’ jail, to be served from the time of his arrest, which was May 18, 2019. Cheng was initially charged under Section 39B (1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act with trafficking in 1,730.6 grammes of ketamine at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), but it was amended and framed under Section 12 (2) of the same law for possession. He was charged with committing the offence at the international departure area (Link Bridge) on Level 4 of KLIA at about 5.20 am on May 18, 2019. Nurulhuda Nur’aini, in his judgment, said that was no evidence to prove the accused was trafficking the drug. “However, the court found the accused guilty of possession of the drug,” she said. Cheng was represented by lawyer Anwar Raof, while deputy public prosecutor Mohd Heikal Ismail prosecuted. -- BERNAMA