PANDITHAN A/L THANGARAJOO v Pendakwa Raya

b-05sh-598-12-2024 Court of Appeal (Mahkamah Rayuan) 24 August 2025 • B-05(SH)-598-12/2024 • 43 min read

24 cases cited (1 SG, 23 foreign)

Catchwords

seksyen 39B(1)(a) Akta Dadah Berbahaya 1952 dan boleh dihukum di bawah seksyen 39B(2) Akta yang sama - seksyen 12(2) Akta Dadah Berbahaya 1952 dan boleh dihukum di bawah seksyen 39A(2) Akta yang sama - anggapan yang menentang di bawah 114(g) Akta Keterangan 1950 - withholding or suppression of evidence - seksyen 8 Akta Keterangan 1950 - seksyen 9 Akta Keterangan 1950 - anggapan undang-undang di bawah seksyen 37(d) Akta Dadah Berbahaya 1952 - tafsiran 'pengedaran dadah' di bawah Akta yang sama - Seksyen 180 Kanun Tatacara Jenayah - kegagalan keadilan (failure of justice) atau ketidakadilan yang substansial (substantial injustice)

Practice Areas

seksyen 39B(1)(a) Akta Dadah Berbahaya 1952 dan boleh dihukum di bawah seksyen 39B(2) Akta yang sama

Judges (3)

Azmi bin Ariffin Delivered Hayatul Akmal binti Abdul Aziz Coram Ravinthran a/l Paramaguru Coram

Counsel (3)

Salehuddin Saidin & Assoc (Shah Alam) Firm Hafizuddin Salehuddin Counsel Appellant Noor Farhana binti Adham Counsel Prosecution

Parties (2)

Pendakwa Raya Respondent Pandithan a/l Thangarajoo Appellant

Case Significance

PANDITHAN A/L THANGARAJOO v Pendakwa Raya is a Court of Appeal (Mahkamah Rayuan) decision dated August 24, 2025 (citation: b-05sh-598-12-2024). <p>The appellant was convicted on three drug charges including trafficking 87.7 grams of heroin and monoacetylmorphines and trafficking 15.7 grams of heroin, both found in Pelabuhan Klang. The key issues concerned adverse inference for failure to call witnesses, the chain of custody, and the application of the presumption under s.37(d). The Court of Appeal unanimously dismissed the appeal and upheld all three convictions and sentences.</p> The panel comprised Azmi bin Ariffin, Hayatul Akmal binti Abdul Aziz and Ravinthran a/l Paramaguru, with Azmi bin Ariffin delivering the judgment. Counsel appearing: Hafizuddin Salehuddin (counsel for appellant), Noor Farhana binti Adham (prosecution counsel).

Summary

The appellant was convicted on three drug charges including trafficking 87.7 grams of heroin and monoacetylmorphines and trafficking 15.7 grams of heroin, both found in Pelabuhan Klang. The key issues concerned adverse inference for failure to call witnesses, the chain of custody, and the application of the presumption under s.37(d). The Court of Appeal unanimously dismissed the appeal and upheld all three convictions and sentences.

What was the outcome of PANDITHAN A/L THANGARAJOO v Pendakwa Raya?

<p>The appellant was convicted on three drug charges including trafficking 87.7 grams of heroin and monoacetylmorphines and trafficking 15.7 grams of ...

Statutes Cited

Evidence Act 1950 (Cap 56)

Cases Cited (24)

SLR (1)

[2001] 1 SLR 633

UK (2)

[1944] AC 156 [1974] 2 All ER 840

MY (21)

[1962] MLJ 307 [1969] 2 MLJ 209 [1969] MLRA 382 [1983] 2 CLJ 10 [1983] 2 MLJ 232 [1987] 1 MLJ 492 [2000] 1 CLJ 105 [2001] 1 CLJ 381 [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] 6 CLJ 121 [2010] 6 CLJ 878 [2010] 6 MLJ 145 [2011] 1 CLJ 273 [2012] MLJU 1433 [2015] 3 CLJ 439 [2017] 1 CLJ 617