A three-man Court of Appeal bench led by Justice Choo Kah Sing overturned the High Court decision that had freed M. Alagesan, 44, on bail pending his drug trafficking trial, and ordered him remanded in custody.[1]
The court held that the Shah Alam High Court judge erred in using the Criminal Procedure Code to grant bail when section 41B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act expressly bars bail for offences punishable by death, and ordered the RM150,000 bail deposit returned.[1] At the defence’s request, the court placed Alagesan at Sungai Buloh Prison until his trial ends and directed the trial court to fix an early hearing date.[1]
Alagesan was charged with trafficking 6.276 kg of cannabis at a house in Kg KL Tin Kalumpang, Kuala Kubu Baharu, Hulu Selangor, on 7 February 2024.[1] The Shah Alam High Court had released him on RM150,000 bail with two sureties on 23 September 2024, with conditions including reporting to police, surrendering his passport and staying home from 7pm to 7am.[1] Trial dates are scheduled for 17 to 19 February and 24 to 26 March 2027.[1]