Chemist S Report Prosecutor S Consent Needed To Transfer Drug Trafficking Cases

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The Court of Appeal says magistrates cannot automatically transfer such cases to the High Court.
The Court of Appeal advised the prosecution in a cannabis trafficking case to expedite the chemist’s report so the hearing can proceed quickly.PUTRAJAYA: A magistrate cannot automatically transfer a drug trafficking case to the High Court without a chemist’s report and the consent of the public prosecutor, the Court of Appeal said
Justice Wong Kean Kheong, speaking for a three-member bench, said the court was bound by a Supreme Court ruling and the literal interpretation of Section 41A of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which outlines special procedures for transferring dangerous drug cases from the magistrates’ court to the High Court.
Yesterday’s ruling is also a departure from a previous, conflicting Court of Appeal decision.
Wong, who sat with Justices Hayatul Akmal Abdul Aziz and Meor Hashimi Abdul Hamid, made the remark when the bench allowed a preliminary objection from the prosecution, stating it had no jurisdiction to hear a leave application to appeal a High Court’s refusal to consider a revision application.
Deputy public prosecutor Abdul Malik Ayob explained that the High Court did not rule on the revision following an application by British national Deishanei Ciara Hall, charged with trafficking in 19kg of cannabis at KLIA on April 12.
Hall must obtain leave from the court because her case originated from the Sepang magistrates’ court.
In August, the magistrate refused to transfer her case to the High Court, prompting Hall to file a revision under Section 325 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
Hall’s lawyer, Michelle Tan, argued that her client’s case should be transferred without delay to set an early trial date.
“Moreover, the accused will be languishing in prison as bail is prohibited for those facing the trafficking charge,” she said.
Wong advised the prosecution to expedite the chemist’s report so that Hall’s case could proceed quickly.
Lawyers familiar with trafficking cases said some magistrates had previously transferred cases to the High Court without chemist’s reports or public prosecutor consent.
Trafficking cases are first charged in the magistrates’ court, but only the High Court can impose the death penalty or up to 30 years’ imprisonment upon conviction. - FMT

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