The Court of Appeal in Putrajaya heard Md Nazli bin Sahid @ Said’s appeal on 26 June 2013 and dismissed it, affirming his conviction and death sentence for trafficking 1,059 grams of cannabis.[1] The written grounds, by Hamid Sultan JCA, are dated 21 October 2014.[1]
Caught with the bag
On 24 December 2010 at about 10 p.m., Inspector Farouk and a surveillance team raided house No. 33, Taman Sri Hartamas, Mergong, Alor Setar, where they first arrested a man known as Mat Tabligh with 20.93 grams of cannabis in a separate matter.[1] Tipped off that another man would deliver drugs to the address at 10 p.m., the team split up to watch the house.[1] A Proton Wira arrived at the porch with its engine running and lights on, and Md Nazli stepped out carrying a white plastic bag marked “AAB Made in China” in his right hand.[1] He threw the bag under the car before the officers could introduce themselves, and when cautioned under section 37A of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and asked what it held, he answered “Ganja kut”.[1] The bag held a slab of dried plant material wrapped in transparent cellotape, confirmed as 1,059 grams of cannabis.[1]
Md Nazli argued on appeal that prejudicial evidence had been admitted, that the search list had omissions, and that he is left-handed while the bag was carried in the right hand.[1] The court held he was technically caught red-handed, so the only issue was whether he had rebutted trafficking on the balance of probabilities, and found the trial court’s view of the evidence a reasonable one.[1]