Judicial Commissioner Suzana Said held that the prosecution’s failure to call another suspect, Tarmizi Yaakob, 48, to testify was fatal to its case, according to RSN Rayer, lawyer for Shah Rezza, 40.

Rayer said the court found that Shah Rezza had been seen washing a sampan that had a gunny sack on board containing the drugs, but there was no evidence that he knew about the drugs.

The court was told that the methamphetamine was packed like Chinese tea in the gunny sack and not in plain view.

Shah Rezza was charged with trafficking in the drugs on March 28, 2022, at Tanjung Asam in Teluk Kumbar.

The defence had argued that prosecution witnesses saw him scooping seawater and cleaning the boat, but never saw him touch or go near the sack containing the drugs. There was no evidence the boat belonged to him, and no personal belongings linking him to the drugs were found.

P Thandayuthapani also represented the accused, while deputy public prosecutor Puteri Nor Nadia Iqbal led the prosecution.