THE Court of Appeal today rejected a lorry attendant’s attempt to overturn his conviction for trafficking in 83g of methamphetamine four years ago.

M. Santanasamy, 45, also failed in his appeal to set aside his conviction for a further two charges of drug possession.

A three-member panel comprising Court of Appeal judges Kamaludin Md Said, Ahmad Nasfy Yasin and High Court judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah dismissed Santanasamy’s appeal.

Justice Kamaludin said there were overwhelming evidence that pointed to Santanasamy having custody and control of the drugs.

Santanasamy’s conviction is safe and his appeals are dismissed, he added.

Santanasamy has one more round of appeal, that is to the Federal Court.

He was charged in the High Court with two other persons, K. Thierruselvan and S. James, with trafficking in 83g of methamphetamine, as well as possession of 7.48g of cannabis and 10.1g of heroin.

They were charged with committing the offences in a house in Taman Sri Rampai, Wangsa Maju, Kuala Lumpur, at 11.40am on February 14, 2018.

On August 14, 2020, the High Court convicted Santanasamy for the drug trafficking offence and sentenced him to death.

He was also found guilty for possession of the cannabis and sentenced to 11 years in prison and 10 strokes of the rotan, and two years in prison for possessing heroin.

However, the High Court discharged and acquitted Thierruselvan, 38, and James, 43, for the trafficking offence and possession of cannabis.

The two men were convicted for possession of heroin and sentenced to two years in prison, which they did not appeal.

Lawyer S.S. Ruban represented Santanasamy, while deputy public prosecutors Asmah Musa and Wong Poi Yoke prosecuted. – Bernama, July 29, 2022.