Couple jailed for 30 years for trafficking 173kg of methamphetamine

KUALA LUMPUR - The High Court today sentenced a couple to 30 years in prison after finding them guilty of trafficking 173kg of methamphetamine four years ago.

Judge Nurulhuda Nur'aini Mohamad Nor handed down the sentence on Adam Tan Seng Tek, 34, and Vietnamese national Nguyen Thi Kim Thanh, 33, after finding that the defence had failed to raise reasonable doubt at the close of the defence case.

"The court finds that the prosecution has successfully proven its case beyond reasonable doubt and finds both accused guilty and convicted on the charge," she said.

The court ordered the prison sentence to run from the couple's arrest on Feb 24, 2022, with Tan also receiving 12 strokes of the cane.

According to the charge, they were accused of jointly trafficking 172,741.10g of methamphetamine at a condominium unit at Residensi Kiara Jalil 1 here at 9.30pm on Feb 24, 2022.

They were charged under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code, which provides for the death penalty or life imprisonment and not fewer than 12 strokes of the cane, if not sentenced to death.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Goh Ai Rene sought a heavy sentence, citing the quantity of drugs involved at 172.74kg.

"In this case, I urge the court to take into account the weight of the drugs involved as well as public interest, apart from the fact that the second accused (Nguyen) is a foreign national who committed the offence in this country.

"Drug offences pose a threat to national security, public order and public health. Drugs were also declared the country's number one enemy in 1983," she said.

Lawyer Kee Wei Loon, representing both accused, sought life imprisonment for his clients, citing the sentencing trend in such cases where courts no longer impose the death penalty and instead opt for life imprisonment. - BERNAMA