PETALING JAYA – The sessions court here has set November 29 to give its verdict on nasyid singer and songwriter Muhammad Yasin Sulaiman’s charges of possessing, cultivating and consuming cannabis.
Judge Faiz Dziyauddin fixed the date after the defence rested its case today. He also fixed November 15 for both parties to file their written submissions.
With this, the earlier date for trial on October 27 has been vacated.
The defence rested its case today after the examination and cross-examination of Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta consultant forensic psychiatrist Dr Ian Llyod Anthony.
Dr Ian has been the only defence witness called to testify on behalf of Yasin since the prosecution established a prima facie case against the singer on October 3.
Yasin was ordered to enter his defence on all three drug charges he faces, that is possessing 193.7g of cannabis, cultivating 17 cannabis plants in plastic pots at his house in Kota Damansara and ingesting cannabis.
The first two charges are framed under Section 39A(2) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries imprisonment of between five years to life, and a maximum 20 strokes of whipping, as well as Section 6B(1)(a) of the same act, which provides for life imprisonment and at least six strokes of the cane, respectively, upon conviction.
The charge of ingesting cannabis is under Section 15(1)(a) and punishable under Section 15(1) of the same act, which carries a fine not exceeding RM5,000 or maximum two-year jail term if convicted.
Previously, Dr Ian testified that Yasin had suffered a mental relapse three months prior to committing the alleged offences.
Today, the same witness affirmed his testimony, also stating that he was the writer of the medical report after completing his assessment and examination of Yasin when the latter was sent to the hospital for mental evaluation for over two months.
The defence is led by lawyer Ariff Azami Hussein while the prosecution is led by Raja Zaizul Faridah Raja Zaharuddin. – October 23, 2023