2 friends get life imprisonment for trafficking in meth

However, the High Court freed a third man jointly charged with the duo in trafficking 305.1g of methamphetamine on June 21, 2021. (File pic)

PETALING JAYA: Two friends were sentenced to life imprisonment by the Kuala Lumpur High Court after they were found guilty of trafficking in drugs three years ago.

Bernama reported Justice Jamil Hussin as handing down the sentence on Lee Chuen Hoe, 44, and Chen Kok Kwong, 59, after finding that the defence had failed to raise reasonable doubt against the prosecution’s case.

“The drugs were found in the custody and control of the first (Lee) and second accused (Chen). They knew the drugs were intended for distribution. Therefore, both accused are found guilty of the charges,” he said.

The judge sentenced both of them to life imprisonment, to be served from the date of their arrest on June 21, 2021, with Lee to be also given 12 strokes of the cane.

However, Jamil acquitted and discharged a third accused, So Hoong Piau, 29, of the charge.

The three of them were jointly charged with trafficking in 305.1g of methamphetamine in front of the Ling Chiropractic Treatment Centre, Jalan Perkasa, Aked Esplanade, in Bukit Jalil at 6.20pm on June 21, 2021.

Framed under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, the charge provides the death penalty upon conviction.

Sinar Harian reported that during the proceedings, lawyer Syaheera Rosli representing Lee had requested for a prison sentence as the mandatory death sentence had been abolished and Lee had given his full cooperation to the police.

Lawyer Manveer Singh, representing Chen, also requested a lower prison sentence due to Chen’s age and his responsibility to take care of his mother.

However, deputy public prosecutor Noor Dayana Mohamed requested for both of the accused to be given the death sentence after taking public interest and the seriousness of the offence into consideration.