23-05-2025
Appeals court upholds 30-year sentence for drug trafficking
A Lingeswaran retains the right to file a final appeal with the Federal Court.
PETALING JAYA : The Court of Appeal today upheld the 30-year prison sentence and 12 strokes of the cane imposed on a 39-year-old man for trafficking 43.2gm of heroin and monoacetylmorphine in 2022.
Bernama reported that a three-member panel, comprising Justices Azman Abdullah, Azmi Ariffin and Noorin Badaruddin, unanimously dismissed the appeal by A Lingeswaran, who sought to overturn both his conviction and sentence.
Delivering the court's decision, Azman held the conviction was safe and warranted affirmation by the appellate court.
He said despite conflicting versions of events from the prosecution and defence, the court was satisfied no further witnesses were required to corroborate the testimony of the arresting officer.
In July last year, the High Court found Lingeswaran guilty of trafficking 40.1gm of heroin and 3.1gm of monoacetylmorphine at Jalan Kenari Biru 1, Taman Kenari Jaya, Sungai Petani, Kedahm around 12.30am on Sept 7, 2022.
The court sentenced Lingeswaran to 30 years' imprisonment and 12 strokes of the cane, with the custodial sentence to take effect from the date of his arrest on Sept 7, 2022.
Prior to his arrest, Lingeswaran was employed as a runner for a workshop, assisting in road accident matters by liaising with police or hospitals, and handling insurance claims.
He retains the right to file a final appeal with the Federal Court.
Lingeswaran was represented by N Sivananthan and Grace S Nathan, while deputy public prosecutor Zander Lim Wai Keong appeared for the prosecution.
