Pubdate: Fri, 30 Jan 2009
Source: Star, The (Malaysia)
Copyright: 2009 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd.
Contact:  http://www.thestar.com.my
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/922
Author: Meera Vijayan

VAN DRIVER GETS DEATH FOR TRAFFICKING

JOHOR BARU: A 30-year-old former van driver was  sentenced to death 
for drug trafficking by a High Court  here.

Mohd Rizal Mohd Jamil, from Kangkar Tebrau, had been  charged with 
trafficking 766.6g of cannabis at around  7pm on Feb 7, 2006 at the 
Tebrau industrial area in  Kangkar Tebrau, Plentong.

High Court Judicial Commissioner Datuk Mohd Zawawi  Salleh said the 
defence had failed to cast reasonable  doubt over the prosecution's case.

In his judgement, he accepted the evidence tendered by  the police 
over the drugs, which had been found in the  car Mohd Rizal had been driving.

He also rejected defence counsel A. Vimala's argument  that Mohd 
Rizal's statement when he was arrested was a  confession, but said 
the accused was merely providing  the police with information.

Vimala had argued that when police had arrested Mohd  Rizal, her 
client had confessed that there were illegal  goods in his car.

She said that the confession should not be admissible  in court, as 
the police had not properly cautioned the  suspect at that time.

Mohd Zawawi also ruled that Mohd Rizal knew about the  drugs as they 
were kept in plain view in the accessory  compartment of the car next 
to the steering wheel.

He said that he had no other choice but to pass the  mandatory death sentence.
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