Singer Yasin escapes gallows, hit with new cannabis possession charge

 

Singer-songwriter Yasin Sulaiman has escaped the gallows after his drug possession charge was withdrawn.

However, he has been hit with a new charge of cannabis possession under Section 39A(2) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 (DDA), which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

Speaking to Malaysiakini, Yasin’s lawyer, Yusmadi Yusoff, said the new charge came about after a chemical report found that the amount of seized cannabis weighed less than 200g.

“Since the drug only weighed 193.7g, the previous charge under Section 39B (1)(a) that carries the death penalty has been withdrawn,” said Yusmadi when contacted after proceedings at the Petaling Jaya Sessions Court before justice Jamaludin Mat.

According to the new charge, Yasin was accused of having in his possession 193.7g of cannabis at a condominium in Persiaran Surian Damansara Indah Resort Home, PJU 3, Kota Damansara, at 5.30pm on March 24.

A conviction punishable under Section 39A(2) provides for imprisonment of no less than five years or maximum life imprisonment, as well as no less than 10 strokes of the cane.

According to Yusmadi, Yasin today also pleaded not guilty to another new charge of administering to himself a dangerous drug, 11-nor-delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid, at the Petaling Jaya district police station, at 11.05pm on March 24.

The offence under Section 15(1)(a) of the DDA carries a maximum fine of RM5,000 or maximum two-year imprisonment upon conviction.

DNAA on trafficking cannabis

Magistrate Muhammad Iskandar Zainol, in a separate proceeding earlier today, granted Selangor prosecution director Khairul Azreem Mamat’s application for Yasin to be granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) over his initial charge of trafficking cannabis.

Yasin, whose full name is Muhammad Yasin Sulaiman, 46, was initially charged on March 31 with trafficking 214g of cannabis and faced life imprisonment or the death penalty.

He is also facing a third charge of cultivating 17 cannabis plants in pots at the same condominium, which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and a minimum of six lashes of the cane upon conviction.

All three charges are set for mention on Aug 22. - Mkini