A Thai woman was acquitted and released by a Malaysian court recently in a case involving the trafficking of 86.8 grams of methamphetamine in 2018.
Bernama reported that Justice Roslan Abu Bakar concluded that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against Rusneeda Beraheng, aged 41.
In his verdict, Roslan stated that the prosecution was unable to prove the second element of the offense, which required demonstrating that the accused had possession, custody, control, and knowledge of the drugs found beneath a car seat.
“Since the second element was not successfully proven, the third element, which is drug trafficking, automatically collapses. The prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case,” explained Roslan.
Consequently, he announced, “Therefore, the accused is acquitted and discharged without having to present a defense.”
Rusneeda had been charged with committing the offense near a house at Kampung Kubang Juluk in Pasir Mas, Kelantan on September 4, 2018.
The charge was filed under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the death penalty upon conviction, as stipulated in Section 39B(2) of the same law.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Aida Fatimah Abd Jabar handled the prosecution, while the accused was represented by lawyer Ahmad Nizam Mohamed.
