The Johor Bahru High Court sentenced car wash attendant K. Nanda Kumar and welder M. Poobalan, both 31, to death for trafficking in more than 6 kg of cannabis.[1][2] They were found guilty over the drug in front of a hotel in Taman Ungku Tun Aminah at about 8 pm on 24 August 2002.[1][2] The two had met an undercover police officer to discuss a drug deal before they were arrested.[1][2]

The defence said the drugs had been brought to the scene in a lorry by someone else, and both men denied any involvement in the deal.[1][2] Judicial Commissioner Datuk Mohd Zawawi Salleh said the court found all the elements of the charge proved, especially the meeting before the arrest, and called the accused’s explanations mere denials.[1][2] Both men were tearful when the verdict was read.[1] Deputy Public Prosecutor Husmin Hussin told the court the maximum sentence was justified in the public interest.[1] Defence counsel Norman Fernandes said in mitigation that both men were 26 at the time of the offence and were the sole breadwinners in their families.[1]