This came after a three-member Court of Appeal bench chaired by Justice Hanipah Farikullah ordered T Murugesan’s jail term to begin from May 21, 2017, the date of his arrest.

Murugesan’s counsel, Sangeet Kaur Deo, told reporters the electrician will be freed and deported to his home country since he had spent five years and 10 months in prison.

At the outset of today’s proceeding, Sangeet told the bench the Attorney-General’s Chambers had accepted a representation made on Murugesan’s behalf.

This was confirmed to the court by deputy public prosecutor Amril Johari.

The Shah Alam High Court had sentenced Murugesan, 38, to death on Jan 8, 2020 after he was found guilty of trafficking in 5.5kg of the drug at KLIA on May 21, 2017.

That trafficking charge was set aside by the Court of Appeal today, and Murugesan was charged with possessing the drug under Section 12 (2) of the Dangerous Drugs Act instead.

Amril called for a maximum jail term to be imposed on the Indian national on grounds of public interest.

Sangeet, however, urged the court to show mercy as her client had come to Malaysia in search of a job.

“He has been in prison for five years and 10 months. He is married with two children, now aged nine and seven,” she said.

She said the offence only prescribed a maximum five-year jail term and a fine of up to RM100,000 or both.

Sangeet was assisted by Simranjit Kaur.