Latest news with #YasinSulaiman
Free Malaysia Today
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Free Malaysia Today
Singer Yasin freed as Court of Appeal overturns life sentence, whipping
The Court of Appeal overturned the conviction of composer and singer Yasin Sulaiman on all three drug-related charges. PUTRAJAYA : The Court of Appeal today acquitted composer and singer Yasin Sulaiman on all three drug-related charges. In a unanimous decision, a three-judge panel comprising Justices Che Ruzima Ghazali, Collin Lawrence Sequerah and Azmi Ariffin overturned the High Court's conviction sentencing Yasin to life imprisonment and 16 strokes of the rotan. However, it reinstated the sessions court's decision ordering Yasin to be placed at Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta, Perak, at the pleasure of the Sultan of Selangor. The appeals court ruled that the lower court had made an error when it dismissed the report provided by the first defence witness, Dr Ian Lloyd Anthony, a consultant forensic psychiatrist from Hospital Bahagia, as hearsay. 'After deliberating and reviewing the authorities submitted, we are of the view that the evidence presented by the defence witness (Dr Ian Lloyd Anthony) is not hearsay. 'This is because the medical report and evidence by Anthony were based on his direct observation of the appellant,' said Che Ruzima. The court also noted that the trial judge had made findings on the issue of legal insanity but there was no detailed elaboration provided on these. 'This raises the question of whether the High Court judge was entitled to revisit and make findings on the issue,' she added. Che Ruzima also said Yasin did not make an unsubstantiated claim about his bipolar disorder condition. 'There were medical reports from the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre, Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz UKM (formerly Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia) and Pantai Hospital that confirmed that the appellant indeed had issues related to the bipolar disorder and that the condition was detected in 2007. 'There was also evidence that the appellant was given medication to deal with the condition,' he said. Veteran lawyer Hisyam Teh Poh Teik represented Yasin, while deputy public prosecutor P Sarulatha appeared for the prosecution. On Aug 22, 2024, the Shah Alam High Court sentenced the Mimpi Laila singer to life imprisonment and ordered that he also be given 16 strokes of the rotan after he was convicted of three drug-related charges. Judge Norsharidah Awang meted out the sentence after allowing the prosecution's appeal against the sessions court's decision to acquit and discharge him in 2023. The sessions court ruled that Yasin was not mentally sound when he was arrested on March 24, 2022, despite being aware of his actions, and ordered that he be sent to Hospital Bahagia for treatment. Yasin was charged in March 2022 with self-administering '11-nor-delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid', a primary active component of cannabis. He was also charged with possession of 193.7gm of cannabis and cultivating 17 cannabis plants at his home in Kota Damansara. All three charges were framed under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
Malay Mail
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Malay Mail
Convicted singer Yasin Sulaiman gets second chance after Court of Appeal reverses life imprisonment sentence
PUTRAJAYA, April 28 — Former popular nasyid singer Yasin Sulaiman's life took an unexpected turn today when he narrowly avoided a life sentence and the harsh punishment of 16 strokes of the cane. The Court of Appeal's ruling today marks a new chapter in Yasin's life, offering him the opportunity for personal transformation after a challenging journey through the legal system. After spending three years behind bars, Yasin, whose full name is Muhammad Yasin Sulaiman, found himself overwhelmed with relief when the Court of Appeal overturned the High Court's August 2024 decision. The three-judge panel, led by Datuk Che Mohd Ruzima Ghazali, ruled in favour of Yasin's final appeal, sparing him from a sentence that could have shaped the remainder of his life. Instead, the appellate court decided that Yasin would be placed under the care of Hospital Bahagia in Ulu Kinta, Perak, where his rehabilitation would be overseen by medical experts, as authorised by the Sultan of Selangor. The emotional moment in court was marked by a symbolic gesture from Yasin, who, after hearing the verdict, was reported by Sinar Harian to have sent a 'flying kiss' to his family and his lawyer, Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, expressing his gratitude for their unwavering support. His family, gathered in the public gallery, broke into smiles and performed a sujud syukur (prostration of gratitude), thankful for the court's decision and the hope it represented. The ruling comes after a complex legal battle that saw Yasin, once the beloved voice behind the hit song Mimpi Laila face a series of charges related to drugs. In August 2024, the High Court convicted Yasin and sentenced him to life imprisonment and 16 strokes of the cane for possession of cannabis, cultivating cannabis plants, and using dangerous drugs. However, in an unexpected twist, the Court of Appeal chose to reinstate the decision of the Sessions Court that had acquitted Yasin, providing him a second chance at life. Yasin was arrested on March 24, 2022 for possessing 193.7 grams of cannabis and cultivating 17 cannabis plants at a condominium in Kota Damansara, Selangor. He was also accused of self-administering a dangerous drug. While the charges carried severe penalties, the Sessions Court had ruled in Yasin's favour, ultimately sparing him from a prison sentence. However, the prosecution appealed, and the High Court's reversal of this decision led to Yasin's brief imprisonment. But now, with the Court of Appeal's decision, Yasin is given the opportunity for rehabilitation, rather than facing the grim fate of a lifetime behind bars. The sentence of rehabilitation, under medical supervision, offers him the chance to recover, reflect, and rebuild his life. This shift from punishment to reform underscores the court's belief in second chances — a theme that is particularly poignant for Yasin's family, who have stood by him throughout the trial.
