THE Ayer Keroh High Court today acquitted and discharged two men over charges of possessing 137.8kg of various types of poisons, 2.06kg of heroin and 5.39 litres of chloroform five years ago.

Chua Shiau Boon, 48, and Seow Book Boon, 45, were seen shaking hands in the dock after judge Mohd Radzi Abdul Hamid read out the verdict.

Radzi said the court found that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against the accused as they failed to summon a key witness, Chan Eng Chin, 35.

“Cigarette butts and DNA found in the house could not link the accused to drug possession because there were traces of other people’s fingerprints,” he said at the proceedings today.

Chua and Seow faced eight amended charges, including possessing 134kg of caffeine (three charges), 2.549kg of chloroquine (two charges), 2.06kg of heroin, 1.25kg of nitrazepam, and 5.39 litres of chloroform.

They were charged with committing these offences at a house located at 125 Tranquerah Residence, Jalan Tengkera at 9.45am on October 2, 2018. 

The charge, under section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, carries a punishment of either the death penalty or life imprisonment and whipping with a minimum of 15 strokes. 

They were also charged under sections 30(3) and 9(1) of the Poison Act 1952.

Deputy public prosecutor Asri Sidek prosecuted, while lawyers Tiu Leong Kim and Andrew Lourdes represented Chua and Seow, respectively. – Bernama, October 30, 2023.