The High Court in Johor Bahru sentenced 30-year-old former van driver Mohd Rizal Mohd Jamil to death for drug trafficking on 30 January 2009.[1][2] He had been charged with trafficking 766.6 grams of cannabis at around 7pm on 7 February 2006 in the Tebrau industrial area of Kangkar Tebrau, Plentong.[1][2]

Judicial Commissioner Datuk Mohd Zawawi Salleh held that the defence had failed to cast reasonable doubt over the prosecution’s case.[1][2] He accepted the police evidence over the drugs, which had been found in the car Mohd Rizal was driving, kept in plain view in the accessory compartment next to the steering wheel, and ruled that Mohd Rizal knew about them.[1][2] He rejected the defence argument that Mohd Rizal’s statement to police on arrest was an inadmissible confession, finding that the accused was merely giving the police information.[1][2] He said he had no other choice but to pass the mandatory death sentence.[1][2]