TAI HUN CHEAN v Pendakwa Raya

b-05sh-159-04-2024 Court of Appeal (Mahkamah Rayuan) 24 June 2025 • B-05(SH)-159-04/2024 • 58 min read

28 cases cited (1 SG, 27 foreign)

Catchwords

Seksyen 39B(1)(a) Akta Dadah Berbahaya 1952 dan boleh dihukum di bawah seksyen 39B(2) Akta yang sama.- Kawalan atau jagaan dan pengetahuan terhadap dadah-dadah yang dirampas - Jagaan atau kawalan dan kelakuan semasa tangkapan adalah “relevant” - Seksyen 8 Akta Keterangan 1950 - Seksyen 9 Akta Keterangan 1950 - Saksi kredibel dan boleh dipercayai – Tiada kegagalan di pihak polis untuk menyiasat penama-penama lain - Kegagalan memanggil saksi lain tidak menyebabkan inferens yang menentang mengikut seksyen 114 (g) Akta Keterangan 1950 terpakai terhadap pendakwaan - Keterangan yang tidak boleh diterima masuk “inadmissible evidence” - Seksyen 40 Akta Dadah Berbahaya 1952 memberi perlindungan kepada pemberi maklumat - Keterangan yang tidak relevan dan bersifat dengar cakap - Kegagalan mematahkan anggapan pengedaran di bawah seksyen 37(da) Akta Dadah Berbahaya 1952 - di atas imbangan kebarangkalian

Practice Areas

Seksyen 39B(1)(a) Akta Dadah Berbahaya 1952 dan boleh dihukum di bawah seksyen 39B(2) Akta yang sama.- Kawalan atau jagaan dan pengetahuan terhadap dadah-dadah yang dirampas

Judges (3)

Azmi bin Ariffin Delivered Hashim bin Hamzah Coram Mohamed Zaini bin Mazlan Coram

Counsel (3)

Nazri Aziz Masura Mak & Tan Firm How May Ling Counsel Prosecution Mak Kah Keong Counsel Appellant

Parties (2)

Pendakwa Raya Respondent Tai Hun Chean Appellant

Case Significance

TAI HUN CHEAN v Pendakwa Raya is a Court of Appeal (Mahkamah Rayuan) decision dated June 24, 2025 (citation: b-05sh-159-04-2024). <p>The appellant was convicted of trafficking 3,171 grams of methamphetamine found in his car during a police operation in Shah Alam and sentenced to life imprisonment (30 years) and 12 strokes of whipping. The Court of Appeal unanimously dismissed the appeal, finding the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt through direct evidence of custody and control, and the appellant failed to rebut the statutory presumption of trafficking under section 37(da) of the Dangerous Drugs Act The panel comprised Azmi bin Ariffin, Hashim bin Hamzah and Mohamed Zaini bin Mazlan, with Azmi bin Ariffin delivering the judgment. Counsel appearing: How May Ling (prosecution counsel), Mak Kah Keong (counsel for appellant).

Summary

The appellant was convicted of trafficking 3,171 grams of methamphetamine found in his car during a police operation in Shah Alam and sentenced to life imprisonment (30 years) and 12 strokes of whipping. The Court of Appeal unanimously dismissed the appeal, finding the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt through direct evidence of custody and control, and the appellant failed to rebut the statutory presumption of trafficking under section 37(da) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.

What was the outcome of TAI HUN CHEAN v Pendakwa Raya?

<p>The appellant was convicted of trafficking 3,171 grams of methamphetamine found in his car during a police operation in Shah Alam and sentenced to ...

Statutes Cited

Evidence Act 1950 (Cap 56)

s 134

Cases Cited (28)

SLR (1)

[2001] 1 SLR 633

UK (4)

[1936] 3 All ER 36 [1944] AC 156 [1974] 2 All ER 840 [2013] 1 WLR 2477

MY (22)

[1962] MLJ 307 [1980] 1 MLJ 251 [1985] 2 CLJ 2 [1987] 1 MLJ 492 [1987] 2 MLJ 336 [1988] 2 MLJ 585 [2001] 1 CLJ 381 [2007] 3 CLJ 281 [2007] 4 CLJ 337 [2008] 6 MLJ 19 [2009] 1 CLJ 717 [2009] 3 CLJ 733 [2010] 2 MLJ 607 [2010] 3 CLJ 269 [2010] 5 CLJ 489 [2010] 6 MLJ 145 [2011] 1 CLJ 273 [2011] 8 CLJ 406 [2013] 7 CLJ 435 [2017] 1 CLJ 617 [2018] 6 CLJ 133 [2020] 12 MLJ 67

IN (1)

AIR 1967 SC 540