KUCHING: A Delhi airport ground supervisor walked out a free man after the High Court here yesterday discharged and acquitted him of a charge of trafficking in 9,356 grammes of ketamine.
Justice Datuk Albert Linton ruled that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against him under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act (DDA) 1952.
Maria John Joy, a 33-year-old Indian national, was charged with trafficking drug at Kuching International Airport arrival hall about 8.15pm on May 3 last year.
That day, a Customs officer asked Maria to open his baggage for examination and several boxes of milk boiler were found inside it.
The officer found that the milk boiler was extraordinarily heavy.
A whitish crystalline substance was found in one of the milk boilers. An examination revealed that the total weight of the substance was 9,356gm.
Linton said Maria was just a carrier and did not know its content. He believed there was a serious doubt about the substances seized.
Linton added at the time of Maria’s arrest, Customs tested the substances using a kit and recorded it as methapetamine.
However, when the evidence was produced in court, it was ketamine.
“There was a serious possibility of a mix up between the two types of drugs. It was also not possible to prove that the baggage belonged to Maria,” said Linton.
Maria told reporters that he was paid a sum of money to bring the goods here.
When met outside the court, he also said that he was a breadwinner of his poor family.
“I’m happy that I am released today and can’t wait to go back to meet my family in Madras,” Maria said, adding that he has a 63-year-old mother who is suffering from high blood pressure and an unemployed sister.
Maria was represented by Shankar Ram while Customs officer Gan Peng Kun handled the prosecution.