Businessman escapes hanging for drug trafficking


AN ONLINE businessman was spared the gallows today after the Federal Court commuted his death sentence with life imprisonment for trafficking in 971.6grammes of methamphetamine six years ago. 

The decision was delivered by a three-man panel of judges comprising Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, Federal Court judges Harmindar Singh Dhaliwal and Abu Bakar Jais.

The panel affirmed Bukhti Shukran Abdul Rahman’s conviction for trafficking the drug.

In delivering the court’s decision, Justice Tengku Maimun, however, said in view of the recent amendment to the Dangerous Drug Act 1952, they are exercising their discretion to substitute the death sentence with life imprisonment .

She also ordered Bukhti, 38, to be whipped 12 times.

On August 16, 2019, the Shah Alam High Court convicted and sentenced Bukhti and two mechanics to death for trafficking in drugs at the Aeon Big car park at Bukit Rimau in Shah Alam, Selangor at about 6.20pm on August 7, 2017.

The Court of Appeal, on February 28, last year, upheld Bukhti’s conviction and death sentence for the offence but acquitted and discharged Saiful Adly Zakaria, 41 and Azrul Alias, 37. The prosecution did not appeal the acquittal of the two men.

According to the facts of the case, Bukhti drove his car from Telok Panglima Garang in Kuala Selangor to a workshop in Bandar Sunway to repair his car. In his evidence, Bukhti said he went to Aeon Big to meet a person known as “Boy” to collect spare parts for his car.

All three men went to Aeon Big in the car which was driven by Bukhti. A police team searched the car and found a box containing the drugs in the rear passenger seat.

Lawyers Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali and Fahmi Abd Moin appeared for Bukhti while deputy public prosecutor How May Ling appeared for the prosecution. – Bernama, September 19, 2023.


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