Yesterday (Mar 26), the Ayer Keroh High Court heard a startling request from a man who was convicted trafficking 2.7kg of methamphetamine six years ago.
The accused was 39-year-old Ng Chan Keong, who was found guilty of committing the crime on the emergency lane at KM215 of the North-South Expressway near Alor Gajah, Melaka, at around 5pm on Oct 2, 2018, reported Harian Metro.
‘I want to be hanged, that’s all’
When asked by Judge Datuk Anselm Charles Fernandis whether he had any final wishes before the sentence was handed out, Ng answered:
I want to be hanged, that’s all.
In response, Anselm said the court reserved the discretion on whether to mete out the death sentence and adjourned the proceedings for five minutes.
When it resumed, Anselm sentenced Ng to life imprisonment and 12 cane strokes.
Ruled Ng failed to raise reasonable doubt
The charge was framed under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, and punishable under Section 39B(2) of the same act, where it provides for the death penalty upon conviction.
In delivering his verdict, Anselm said Ng failed to raise reasonable doubt, adding that the court found him to be an “unreliable witness”, reported Berita Harian.
According to Ng’s defence team, they said he wasn’t aware that there were drugs inside the boot of the car he was driving from Genting Highlands to JB before being pulled over by police.
“The defendant [Ng] stated that he went to Genting Highlands with his boss, known as Tan, who was also the second defence witness a day earlier, and stayed at a hotel there.
“The defendant claimed that Tan told him to drive the car to JB and hand over RM180,000 and SGD9,300 (about RM32,600) in cash to Tan’s female friend.
“The defendant added that he only drove the car and did not check it before being stopped by patrol police while on the road,” said Anselm.
He also added that Ng’s attempt to speed away, refusing to open the car boot, and trying to bribe the police indicated that he knew of the drugs’ presence.
A total of 15 witnesses were called to testify in the case which began on 10 Sept 2020, which led to Ng’s conviction.
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