JOHOR BARU: The Johor Baru High Court today sentenced two friends to death for trafficking in drugs.
Taza Tarji, 23, and Herman, 34, wept as High Court judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah meted out the sentence this morning.
The duo, who was charged under Section 39B (1) of the Dangerous Drugs Act, was found guilty of trafficking 5.49kg of methamphetamine two years ago.
Collin passed the sentence at the end of the defence’s case, after the defence counsel failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the two are not guilty.
The duo was whisked out of the courtroom, where the situation turned violent when Herman tried to kick one of the many press photographers who were waiting outside.
Taza, meanwhile, tried to hide his face from the cameras.
Based on the charge sheet, Taza, who worked as a waiter, and Herman, who was a contract labourer, were charged with trafficking said drugs in Tanjung Piai waters in Pontian via a boat at 4.15pm on Sept 26, 2016.
Section 39B (1) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which allows for sentencing in accordance with Section 39B (2) of the same act, provides only for the death sentence as punishment, upon conviction.
The prosecution team was led by deputy public prosecutor Nor Iffa Zarilla Abd Rahman, who called six witnesses to the stand since the beginning of the case trial in July 23 last year.
Both the accused were represented by lawyers; Taza was represented by counsel Lydiana Mansor, while Herman was represented by lawyer Azrul Sani.
Four defence witnesses were called to the stand during the trial.
According to case facts, an inspection of the boat the duo was in led to the discovery of a backpack filled with packets of instant food and drinks – but further inspection revealed that the packets were filled with tubes of crystallised meth wrapped in newspaper.