A lorry driver has been acquitted of two drug-related charges after spending over four years on remand. Maizal Yusmawi Yusoff, 45, was found not guilty by the Kota Bharu High Court today.
Maizal had been arrested on April 24, 2022, and charged with trafficking in 748.2g of methamphetamine at a roadside location in Kelantan. He also faced a second charge of using amphetamine and methamphetamine at a police headquarters office the next day.
The prosecution's case relied heavily on evidence from an arresting officer and a motorcycle owner who claimed to have seen Maizal with another individual, "Kay", shortly before his arrest. However, Justice Rosli Yusoff found that this evidence was insufficient to prove Maizal's possession or control of the drugs.
On the second charge, the judge criticized the prosecution for failing to call key witnesses and for delaying the analysis of a urine sample taken from Maizal. This delay raised concerns about contamination.
Maizal has been on remand since his arrest in 2022. He was represented by lawyers Geethan Ram Vincent and Lavinia Raja, while deputy public prosecutor Nor Hazimah Ghazali led the prosecution.
**Background**
The case highlights issues with evidence gathering and witness testimony in Malaysian courts. The acquittal of Maizal comes after a lengthy trial that has drawn attention to concerns about police procedures and the handling of evidence.