Couple Jailed 30 Years Over 173kg Methamphetamine in KL

A couple have been sentenced to 30 years in prison for trafficking about 173kg of methamphetamine at a Kuala Lumpur condominium four years ago, Bernama reported. High Court Judge Nurulhuda Nur’aini Mohamad Nor handed down the sentence on Friday (Oct 30) after finding both guilty of the charge.

Couple Convicted Over 173kg Methamphetamine

Adam Tan Seng Tek, 34, and Vietnamese national Nguyen Thi Kim Thanh, 33, were jointly charged with trafficking 172,741.10g of methamphetamine. The offence took place at about 9.30pm on Feb 24, 2022, in a unit at Residensi Kiara Jalil 1 in Kuala Lumpur, according to the charge.

They were charged under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code. Bernama said the provision carries the death penalty or life imprisonment and, if the death sentence is not imposed, not fewer than 12 strokes of the cane.

The judge ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt and that the defence had failed to raise a reasonable doubt at the close of its case.

Both were ordered to serve 30 years in jail from the date of their arrest on Feb 24, 2022. Tan was also sentenced to 12 strokes of the cane.

Prosecution Seeks Heavy Sentence

Deputy Public Prosecutor Goh Ai Rene urged the court to impose a heavy sentence, pointing to the large quantity of drugs involved, the public interest, and the fact that Nguyen is a foreigner who committed the offence in Malaysia.

“Drug offences pose a threat to national security, public order and public health,” she told the court. She also noted that drugs were declared the country’s number one enemy in 1983.

Defence Asks for Life Term

Lawyer Kee Wei Loon, who represented both accused, asked for life imprisonment instead. He cited sentencing trends in which the courts no longer impose the death penalty and opt for life terms.

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