Drug Trafficking

Today when i'm browsing through the star online website, i came across a news article titled:"Boat maker to hang for trafficking". Panizan Sunan Achayari was sentenced to hang under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.


JOHOR BARU: A boat maker was sentenced to death by a High Court here after he was found guilty of trafficking in 1.6kg of cannabis.

Panizan Sunan Achayari, 32, an Indonesian national with permanent resident status, appeared calm when the judge read out the sentence.

According to the facts of the case, the drugs were found in a red bag labelled with the words “best wishes” on a motorcycle used by Panizan.

The offence was said to have been committed at 10.20pm outside the Surau Kg Tok Siak in Bakar Batu, Majidee here on March 22, 2006.

Lawyer Norman J. Fernandez, who represented the accused, told the judge that Panizan had committed the offence because of poverty. He added that Panizan was remorseful.

Justice Datuk Mohd Zawawi Salleh, however, said it was a serious offence.

“The accused has failed to raise doubt in the prosecution’s case and therefore the court has no choice but to sentence the accused to hang under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952,” he said.

According to Section 39B of Dangerous Drugs Act 1952,
(1) no person shall, on his behalf or on behalf of any other person, whether or not such other person is in Malaysia -
(a) traffic in a dangerous drug;
(b) offer to traffic in a dangerous drug;
(c) or do or offer to do an act preparatory to or for the purpose of trafficking in a dangerous drug.
Any person who contravenes any of the provisions of subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence against this Act and shall be punished on conviction with death.

By trafficking 1.6kg of cannabis, Panizan had violated this law and was sentenced to hang. Cannabis is also known as marijuana, marihuana and ganja. In Malaysia, there are various anti-drug campaigns designed to educate young people on the dangers of drug use. Malaysia views drug trafficking as a serious offence and once the offender is proved guilty, he or she will be sentenced to hang.