SEOW BOON SENG v Pendakwa Raya [TIMBALAN PENDAKWA RAYA]

b-05sh-582-11-2023 Court of Appeal (Mahkamah Rayuan) 1 July 2025 • B-05(SH)-582-11/2023 • 38 min read
13 cases cited (0 SG, 13 foreign)

Catchwords

Seksyen 39B(1)(a) Akta Dadah Berbahaya 1952 – milikan (possession) atau kawalan (custody) dan pengetahuan (knowledge) – anggapan pengedaran di bawah Seksyen 37(da) ADB 1952 –pembelaan Perayu bukanlah satu penafian kosong (bare denial) dan fikiran terkemudian (afterthought) – naratif pembelaan bagi Perayu dan Tertuduh Kedua adalah sama – Perayu disabitkan manakala Tertuduh Kedua dilepaskan dan dibebaskan – Hakim Mahkamah Tinggi gagal menjelaskan alasan Tertuduh Kedua dibebaskan dan mensabitkan Perayu sedangkan naratif kes pembelaan adalah sama bagi kedua-dua Tetuduh – Wujud keadaan khas untuk Mahkamah Atasan campur tangan

Practice Areas

Seksyen 39B(1)(a) Akta Dadah Berbahaya 1952

Judges (3)

Ahmad Zaidi bin Ibrahim Coram Azman bin Abdullah Delivered Noorin binti Badaruddin Coram

Counsel (4)

H.T. Low Firm Aznee Salmie binti Ahmad Counsel Prosecution Datuk N. Sivanathan Counsel Appellant Low Huey Theng Counsel Appellant

Parties (2)

Pendakwa Raya Respondent Seow Boon Seng Appellant

Case Significance

SEOW BOON SENG v Pendakwa Raya [TIMBALAN PENDAKWA RAYA] is a Court of Appeal (Mahkamah Rayuan) decision dated July 1, 2025 (citation: b-05sh-582-11-2023). <p>The appellant was convicted of trafficking 31,177.8 grams of methamphetamine found at a house in Jenjarom with common intention alongside his wife (the second accused), who was acquitted. The key issue was that the trial judge failed to explain why the wife was acquitted while convicting the appellant, despite both having the same defence narrative. The Court of Appeal allowed the appeal, finding the conviction unsafe, and acquitted the appellant.</p> The panel comprised Ahmad Zaidi bin Ibrahim, Azman bin Abdullah and Noorin binti Badaruddin, with Azman bin Abdullah delivering the judgment. Counsel appearing: Aznee Salmie binti Ahmad (prosecution counsel), Datuk N. Sivanathan (counsel for appellant), Low Huey Theng (counsel for appellant).

Summary

The appellant was convicted of trafficking 31,177.8 grams of methamphetamine found at a house in Jenjarom with common intention alongside his wife (the second accused), who was acquitted. The key issue was that the trial judge failed to explain why the wife was acquitted while convicting the appellant, despite both having the same defence narrative. The Court of Appeal allowed the appeal, finding the conviction unsafe, and acquitted the appellant.

What was the outcome of SEOW BOON SENG v Pendakwa Raya [TIMBALAN PENDAKWA RAYA]?

<p>The appellant was convicted of trafficking 31,177.8 grams of methamphetamine found at a house in Jenjarom with common intention alongside his wife ...

Statutes Cited

Penal Code (Cap 574)

Cases Cited (13)

MY (13)
[1956] 22 MLJ 237 [1970] 1 MLJ 40 [1981] 1 MLJ 212 [1981] 1 MLJ 258 [1987] 2 MLJ 214 [2005] 1 MLJ 699 [2005] 6 MLJ 393 [2008] 4 CLJ 764 [2013] 4 CLJ 149 [2016] 7 CLJ 1 [2017] 4 MLJ 421 [2017] MLJU 179 [2018] 6 CLJ 133