KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 22 – The Shah Alam High Court today overturned a lower court’s decision to acquit and discharge composer and singer Yasin Sulaiman. The court sentenced him to life imprisonment and 16 strokes of the cane after he was found guilty of three drug-related offences two years ago.
Judge Datuk Norsharidah Awang delivered the verdict after allowing the prosecution’s appeal against the decision of Petaling Jaya Sessions Court judge Faiz Dziyauddin, who acquitted and released Yasin in November last year, Malay daily News Harian reported today.
Yasin, whose real name is Muhammad Yasin Sulaiman, 48, was previously detained at Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta, Perak, and was handcuffed by police and taken straight to Kajang Prison.
“This is a black day for me,” Yasin was quoted as saying as he was escorted by police.
The prosecution was led by Deputy Public Prosecutors Raja Zaizul Faridah Raja Zaharudin and Ahmad Zuhaini Mahamad Amin, while lawyer Ariff Azami represented Hussein Yasin.
According to the new first charge, Yasin was accused of possessing 193.7 grams of cannabis at a condominium at Persiaran Surian Damansara Indah Resort Home, PJU 3, Kota Damansara at 5.30pm on March 24, 2022.
For this offence, Yasin was charged under Section 6 of the Narcotics Act 1952. If convicted, he faces a term of imprisonment for life or at least five years in prison and at least ten strokes of the cane.
The second charge concerns the allegation that Yasin grew 17 cannabis plants in plastic pots at the same place, on the same date and at the same time.
This charge falls under section 6B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which provides for a sentence of life imprisonment and not less than six strokes of the cane on conviction.
The third charge accuses Yasin of consuming the dangerous drug “11-nor-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid” at 11:05 p.m. on the same day at the Petaling Jaya District Narcotics Investigation Office.
The charge for this offence is under Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which, if convicted, carries a fine of up to RM5,000 or a prison sentence of up to two years.
