Yen Tai Xiang v Pendakwa Raya [Pendakwa Raya]

b-05sh-356-07-2024 Court of Appeal (Mahkamah Rayuan) 28 April 2025 • B-05(SH)-356-07/2024 • 100 min read

37 cases cited (4 SG, 33 foreign)

Catchwords

Seksyen 39B(1)(a) Akta Dadah Berbahaya 1952 (ADB) dan boleh dihukum dibawah seksyen 39B(2) Akta yang sama - Isu - Isu Di Peringkat Rayuan: (i) sama ada terdapat ketiadaan pengetahuan tertuduh-tertuduh terhadap dadah yang dijumpai - (ii) sama ada terdapat ketiadaan pengetahuan tertuduh-tertuduh tentang sifat sebenar dadah yang dibawa - (iii) sama ada wujud pembelaan pembawa tidak bersalah (“innocent carrier") - (iv) sama ada wujud ugutan (duress) - (v) sama ada Notis Alcontara telah diberikan dengan sempurna - (vi) sama ada pertimbangan sewajarnya telah diberikan terhadap keterangan SD9 - anggapan di bawah seksyen 37(da) Akta Dadah Berbahaya 1952 - Seksyen 94 Kanun Keseksaan - Act to which a person is compelled by threats - ugutan hendaklah bersifat imminent, persistent and extreme at the time of the commission of the offence - wilful blindness - versi pembelaan keenam-enam tertuduh adalah tidak kredibel, pemikiran terkemudian, rekaan dan penafian kosong semata-mata - keterangan SD9 nyata tidak konsisten dengan keterangan tertuduh-tertuduh - pembelaan bersifat simple denial - Sabitan di bawah seksyen 39B(1)(a) Akta Dadah Berbahaya 1952 selamat untuk dikekalkan - Akta Pemansuhan Hukuman Mati Mandatori 2023 (Akta 846) pada 4 Julai 2023 - hukuman pemenjaraan selama tiga puluh (30) tahun dari tarikh tangkap (11 Ogos 2018) dan 15 kali sebatan dikekalkan

Practice Areas

Seksyen 39B(1)(a) Akta Dadah Berbahaya 1952 (ADB) dan boleh dihukum dibawah seksyen 39B(2) Akta yang sama

Judges (3)

Azmi bin Ariffin Delivered Che Mohd Ruzima bin Ghazali Coram Collin Lawrence Sequerah Coram

Counsel (5)

Kit & Associates (Kuala Lumpur) Firm Afzainizam bin Abdul Aziz Counsel Prosecution Chew Jee San Counsel Appellant Kitson Foong Counsel Appellant Vivian Yew Zhi Xuan Counsel Appellant

Parties (2)

Pendakwa Raya Respondent Yen Tai Xiang Appellant

Case Significance

Yen Tai Xiang v Pendakwa Raya [Pendakwa Raya] is a Court of Appeal (Mahkamah Rayuan) decision dated April 28, 2025 (citation: b-05sh-356-07-2024). <p>Yen Tai Xiang was one of six appellants convicted of trafficking methamphetamine at the KLIA 2 narcotics office in Sepang. The judgment text is identical to that of the lead case B-05(SH)-344-07/2024 as all six appeals were heard together. The Court of Appeal unanimously dismissed the appeal and upheld the 30-year imprisonment sentence and 15 strokes of whipping.</p> The panel comprised Azmi bin Ariffin, Che Mohd Ruzima bin Ghazali and Collin Lawrence Sequerah, with Azmi bin Ariffin delivering the judgment. Counsel appearing: Afzainizam bin Abdul Aziz (prosecution counsel), Chew Jee San (counsel for appellant), Kitson Foong (counsel for appellant), Vivian Yew Zhi Xuan (counsel for appellant).

Summary

Yen Tai Xiang was one of six appellants convicted of trafficking methamphetamine at the KLIA 2 narcotics office in Sepang. The judgment text is identical to that of the lead case B-05(SH)-344-07/2024 as all six appeals were heard together. The Court of Appeal unanimously dismissed the appeal and upheld the 30-year imprisonment sentence and 15 strokes of whipping.

What was the outcome of Yen Tai Xiang v Pendakwa Raya [Pendakwa Raya]?

<p>Yen Tai Xiang was one of six appellants convicted of trafficking methamphetamine at the KLIA 2 narcotics office in Sepang. The judgment text is ide...

Statutes Cited

Penal Code (Cap 574)

Cases Cited (37)

SG (1)

[1994] SGCA 88

SLR (3)

[1995] 2 SLR 424 [2001] 1 SLR 633 [2008] 1 SLR 1

UK (1)

[1968] 2 All ER 356

MY (32)

[1949] 15 MLJ 87 [1949] MLJ 87 [1956] 1 MLJ 237 [1956] MLJ 28 [1969] MLRA 382 [1980] 2 MLJ 195 [1981] 1 MLJ 64 [1996] 1 CLJ 705 [1997] 3 MLJ 795 [1998] 4 CLJ 789 [1998] 4 MLJ 246 [2001] 1 MLJ 259 [2004] 4 CLJ 551 [2004] 4 MLJ 489 [2005] 4 MLJ 314 [2006] 2 CLJ 129 [2006] 3 CLJ 724 [2006] 5 MLJ 415 [2006] 5 MLJ 509 [2007] 4 CLJ 337 [2007] 5 MLJ 1 [2008] 4 CLJ 764 [2008] 6 MLJ 19 [2009] 2 MLJ 490 [2010] 1 MLJ 741 [2010] 6 MLJ 145 [2010] MLJU 2184 [2011] 1 CLJ 273 [2011] 4 MLJ 40 [2013] 5 MLJ 780 [2015] 1 CLJ 993 [2020] 3 MLJ 21