Tiang being escorted out of the courthouse.
KUCHING: A car accessory seller escaped the gallows yesterday when the High Court invoked the new drug law in Section 2A (a) of the Dangerous Drug Act 1952 (Revised 1980) and sentenced him to life imprisonment for trafficking drugs.
Judge Datuk Yew Jen Kie found Tiang Haw Kwong, 49, guilty on four counts of having possession of various type of drugs including Estacy and Syabu at his apartment in Jalan Airport here at 12.30pm on March 23 2016 but at the time of the police raid at the premises, there was no activity of selling drugs.
While the accused person occupied the master bedroom of the rented apartment, these drugs were found inside other two rooms, according to evidence before the court during trial hearing.
By virtue of Section 2A (a) of the Act the judge now has the discretion to sentence drug trafficker(s) to life imprisonment if the defence can convince the court that there was no transaction of the drug at the time of arrest or police raiding party.
The trial hearing started in February last year and 10 prosecution witnesses were called to testify against Tiang who is also the only defence witness.
DPP Musli Abdul Hamid prosecuted while Counsels Roger Chin and Osman Ibrahim represented the accused.
The accused has instructed his lawyers to file an appeal at the Court of Appeal against the High Court decision to convict him.