THE Seremban High Court today sentenced two friends to 30 years’ jail and ordered them to be whipped 12 times for trafficking in 768.9g of methamphetamine in 2018.

Judge Azman Abdullah meted out the sentence on Muhammad Zarif Mohd Noor Ajala, 46, and Mohd Najmi Abd Rahim, 39, after finding them guilty of the offence at the end of a full trial.

They were jointly charged with trafficking methamphetamine at a fast food restaurant at Persiaran Pusat Bandar, Nilai, at 3.45pm on September 18, 2018.

The offence was framed under section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.

Meanwhile, the court also sentenced Najmi to two years’ jail and ordered to be whipped three times after he was found guilty of possessing 13.11g of methamphetamine at the same place, time, and date.

The court ordered both accused to serve the jail sentence from the date of arrest on Septemver 18, 2018, while the whipping was put on hold pending their appeal at the Court of Appeal.

Before sentencing, Azman said the two accused should be grateful as there was an amendment last month allowing the court to exercise discretion on imposing the death penalty.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Husni Fairos Ramly prosecuted while lawyers Wan Shahrizal Wan Ladin and R. Palaya represented Zarif and Najmi, respectively. – Bernama, August 18, 2023.