The trafficking of 27kg of cannabisin last year has resulted in the death of a Nigeria tourist . Mohd Amin Firdaus Abdullah , who was judicial commissioner, in finding Martin Uchenna guilty, ruled that the defence had failed to raise a reasonable doubt on the prosecution’s case; New Straits Times reported.
The 32-year old Uchenna was charged with two counts of trafficking in 14kg and 13kg of cannabis at a toll plaza on Aug 29 last year.
In the incident, police and Customs Department personnel had stopped a bus coming from the city of Alor Star, and upon checking, noticed Uchenna behaving suspiciously.
Thus all passengers were asked to get down from the bus and claim their luggage.
Uchenna did not claim his two bags. The bags were later found to contain drugs when sniffer dogs were called in to sniff the bags.
Mohd Amin said two keys were found on the accused and it later turned out that they matched the lock on one of the bags.
He also questioned Uchenna’s decision to give his testimony from the dock during the trial, which meant he could not be cross-examined.
“Why didn’t Uchenna give a sworn testimony from the witness stand, where he could be cross-examined, if he had nothing to hide?” Mohd Amin asked.
Uchenna was represented by Harpal Singh Gill. Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohd Amril Johari prosecuted.
