YAP YEE HUAT [ ]

YAP YEE HUAT [ ]

The Court held the trial judge correctly rejected the innocent carrier defence because the appellant exhibited wilful blindness; there was no basis for an adverse inference under s114(g) because the prosecution could not locate Kelvin and Tai from the details given; s39B(2A) had been repealed so the mandatory death...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
B-05-266-08/2021 (Mahkamah Rayuan)
Parties
Appellant: Yap Yee Huat; Respondent: Pendakwa Raya
Court
Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction
Malaysia
Judgment Date
8 August 2023
Case Number
B-05-266-08/2021 (Mahkamah Rayuan)
Procedural Posture
Criminal Appeal / Court of Appeal Judgment on Appeal
Outcome
Conviction affirmed; death sentence set aside and substituted with imprisonment for 30 years and 12 strokes of the rotan
Legal Topics
Innocent Carrier, Wilful Blindness, Possession, Drug Trafficking, Mandatory Death Penalty Abolition, Alternative Sentencing
Criminal Law Drug Offences Evidence Law Sentencing Law Innocent Carrier Wilful Blindness Possession Drug Trafficking +2 more

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Parties

Yap Yee Huat

Appellant

Pendakwa Raya

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Criminal Appeal / Court of Appeal Judgment on Appeal

  1. 1 Whether the defence of innocent carrier succeeds
  2. 2 Whether an adverse inference under s114(g) Evidence Act 1950 arises from prosecution's failure to call named persons
  3. 3 Whether alternative sentencing under s39B(2A) Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 applies after legislative repeal

Ratio Decidendi

The Court held the trial judge correctly rejected the innocent carrier defence because the appellant exhibited wilful blindness; there was no basis for an adverse inference under s114(g) because the prosecution could not locate Kelvin and Tai from the details given; s39B(2A) had been repealed so the mandatory death sentence was set aside and substituted with life imprisonment (treated as 30 years) and 12 strokes; conviction was therefore affirmed and sentence substituted.

Court Disposition

Conviction affirmed; death sentence set aside and substituted with imprisonment for 30 years and 12 strokes of the rotan

Orders

  • Conviction for offence under s39B(1)(a) Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 affirmed
  • Death sentence imposed by High Court set aside