Man sentenced to death over cannabis oil gets cabinet reprieve

Updated 7 years ago · Published on 12 Oct 2018 7:43PM · 2 Comments

Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman says the cabinet has unanimously agreed that a 29-year-old that was sentenced to death for possessing a large quantity of cannabis oil should not be sent to the gallows. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, October 12, 2018.

THE cabinet has agreed that patients who use medical marijuana (cannabis oil) should not face the brunt of the law, reported The Star today.

The daily quoted Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman as saying this when he announced that the cabinet has also agreed to place a moratorium on Muhammad Lukman’s death sentence.

Lukman was found guilty of processing, possessing and distributing by the Shah Alam High Court, which handed him a death sentence on August 30.

Lukman, a 29-year-old father of one, was arrested in December 2015 for the possession of 3.1 litres of cannabis oil, 279 grams of compressed cannabis, 1.4kg of substance containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

He was nabbed by the police along with his then five-month pregnant wife, who was freed later, during a raid at his home.

The death sentence meted down to him had triggered public outcry from various quarters including Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar, who said she will be writing an appeal to the attorney-general to seek a pardon for Lukman.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad on September 19 said that Lukman’s death sentence should be reviewed, while an online petition calling for his release had garnered almost 70,000 signatures so far.

Speaking to reporters in Port Dickson today, Syed Saddiq said he had brought up the matter in the cabinet and had discussions with Dr Mahathir.

“As a consensus, we agree that it (death penalty) should not have happened.

“At the same time, we have also agreed to put a moratorium on his death penalty,” he was quoted as saying.

When asked if medical marijuana should be legalised, Syed Saddiq replied “one by one”. – October 12, 2018.

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Comments

  • This is where PH is NOT Walking the Talk. Some time back Dr M preached that the judiciary shall be independent, and that the EXECUTIVE branch of the Givernment shall not interfere with the Legislative and Judiciary. All three components are said to possess equal power.
    So now, why is the Executive imposing its influence on the Judiciary?
    This is wrong!! The PH reforms are just Talk!
    Practice what you preach to gain the respect of the people.
    If the judge presiding the case found that the accused to be innocent, the Judge is to be the one to set the accused free or commute the death sentence.
    Please PH, dont undermine the peoples understanding of rule of law, its independence and sovereignty, otherwise you might find your reign a short one!!

    Posted 7 years ago by Thiruchelvam Thirunavukarasu · Reply

  • What part of the word moratorium that folks don't understand. There is no interference with the court, it's just the death sentence won't apply. They are called lawmakers right?

    Posted 7 years ago by GHAZAIME GHAZALI · Reply