A CONTRACTOR escaped the noose after a successful appeal to set aside his conviction and death sentence for drug trafficking offences.

Feroz Mohamed’s appeal was allowed by the three-member Court of Appeal bench comprising Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera, M. Gunalan and S.M. Komathy Suppiah today.

In the ruling, Vazeer said Feroz’s conviction for the offences was not safe to be upheld as the prosecution’s case was based on a raiding officer’s doubtful testimony, which cast suspicion as to what transpired on the day of the raid.

Feroz’s counsel, Afifuddin Ahmad Hafifi, confirmed the court’s decision to Bernama.

On November 26, 2021, the High Court convicted Feroz on two charges of trafficking cannabis and sentenced him to death.

For the first charge, the 47-year-old man was accused of trafficking in 10,221.5g of cannabis to a house on Jalan Permatang Kuala in Penaga, Seberang Perai Utara, Penang, at 1pm on June 25, 2018.

He was also accused of trafficking 2,354g of cannabis at a flat in Taman Seri Pinang in Seberang Perai Utara at 2pm the same day.

Afifuddin submitted three issues before the court, including the failure of the High Court judge to consider the credibility of the police officer who testified.

The officer was part of the team that raided the house where the drugs were found, and was the one who discovered the drugs in the car driven by Feroz. He also went to the flat where more drugs were found, with directions provided by Feroz. – Bernama, September 15, 2023.