Court of Appeal overturns Farid Kamil jail sentence


ACTOR-DIRECTOR Farid Kamil Zahari was fined RM5,000 today for administering drugs to himself four years ago, after the Court of Appeal overturned his nine-month jail sentence imposed by the Petaling Jaya Magistrate’s Court in 2019 and fined him instead.

However, the three-panel bench led by Kamaludin Md Said upheld a two-year National Anti-Drug Agency supervision order on Farid.

Kamaludin, who sat with Judges Ahmad Nasfy Yasin and See Mee Chun, in a unanimous decision, said the Magistrate’s Court was inconsistent in its consideration when jailing Farid.

The judge said there was no concrete explanation that can state that the punishment is commensurate with the offence committed at the time and that there were aggravating aspects, such as past offences.

“In this case, we found the facts quite straightforward and did not lead to a too serious or heavy offence,” he said.

On May 15, 2019, the Magistrate’s Court sentenced the actor to nine months’ jail after finding him guilty of using THC in the narcotics office at Petaling Jaya police headquarters, at 4.30pm on January 11, 2018.

In November 2019, Shah Alam High Court upheld the sentence and Farid appealed.

His wife, actress Diana Danielle, and his brother, Fadzil, were present at the court today.

When met outside the court, Farid expressed his gratitude for today’s decision, which he described as the best for him.

“I’m so happy now that the case is finally settled and I can focus on my next film, Anwar, which is now at the final stage of filming and scheduled to hit the cinemas in February next year,” he said.

Farid was represented by lawyers Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, Kee Wei Lon and Low Wei Loke, while deputy public prosecutor Eyu Ghim Siang appeared for the prosecution. – Bernama, November 30, 2022.


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