Malaysia’s Court of Appeal upheld Parlan Dadeh’s death sentence for trafficking cannabis in Juru.[1][2][3][4]

Malaysia’s Court of Appeal in Penang dismissed Indonesian labourer Parlan Dadeh’s appeal against his conviction and death sentence on 30 March 2006.[1][2] Parlan, 33, nodded his head as an interpreter from the Indonesian Consulate explained the court’s decision to him.[1] He had been charged with trafficking 436.2 grams of cannabis in front of a restaurant in Jalan Tok Kangar, Juru, in Central Seberang Prai on 8 November 2000.[1][2] The High Court had found him guilty and sentenced him to death on 29 April 2003.[1][2]

At the appeal, counsel M. M. Athimulan and deputy public prosecutor Manoj Kurup had argued the case on the Monday before the decision.[1] The prosecution said Parlan knew about the drug because it was concealed at his waist inside his jeans, while the defence said he might not have known the hidden item was a drug.[1] The three-judge panel held that only Parlan himself could have placed the black plastic bag inside his jeans and said it was entirely satisfied the trial judge was right that he knew its contents.[1] The court dismissed the appeal, a decision that left Parlan with an automatic appeal to the Federal Court.[1]