Drug trafficker escapes gallows, sentence reduced to 10-year jail term

Shankar Ram (right) and Lee at the Kuching Court Complex on Sept 25, 2024.

By Lian Cheng

KUCHING, Sept 25: A drug trafficker has avoided the death penalty following the decision of the Federal Court to reduce his sentence to 10 years imprisonment.

Lee Gnan Hoe was today acquitted of the first charge under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, and was found guilty under Section 39A(2) and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.

For the second charge, under Section 12(2) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which is punishable under subsection 12(3) of the same Act, Lee was acquitted because the High Court did not make a finding on this charge.

Lee was charged for trafficking 482.8 grammes of methamphetamine at the car garage of the Narcotics Investigation Department, Sarawak Police Contingent Headquarters, Kuching on Oct 3, 2017.

His second charge involved possession of 111.86 grammes of ketamine on the same day, at the same place and at the same time.

Lee was arrested on Sept 30, 2017 and faced trial where his defence was called on Nov 30, 2018.

He was convicted of both charges and was sentenced to death by hanging by Kuching High Court.

His appeal to the Court of Appeal was dismissed on Aug 25, 2022.

The sentence today was passed by three-member Federal Court bench made up by Tan Sri Datuk Amar Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim, Dato Sri Hasnah Mohammed Hashim and Dato Rhodzariah Bujang.

Senior counsel Shankar Ram Asnani and Eddy Lai represented Lee while DPP DPP Mohd Fairuz Johari prosecuted. — DayakDaily