KUCHING: An unemployed man charged with drug-trafficking is set to face the gallows after the Court of Appeal allowed the prosecutor’s appeal against his earlier conviction and sentence.
Abdul Hafiz Abdul Latip, 28, from Kota Samarahan, appeared shocked upon hearing the court’s decision.
He was initially sentenced to a total of 18 years in prison and 10 strokes of the cane for a drug possession charge under Section 39A of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
However, the three-judge panel yesterday unanimously allowed the prosecutor’s appeal against the sentence – viewed as being too lenient.
In this respect, the judges set aside the initial conviction and substituted it with Section 39B of the same Act, which carries the mandatory death sentence upon conviction.
Abdul Hafiz was found guilty of possessing 1.099kg of cannabis. The offence is said to have been committed at his house in Taman Desa Ilmu, Kota Samarahan near here at about 2.30am on July 25, 2015.
Additionally, the court also dismissed Abdul Hafiz’s cross-appeal against the conviction.