KUALA LUMPUR: Former radio presenter Ismahalil Hamzah broke down when he escaped the gallows after the High Court freed him from drug trafficking charges today.
The 49-year-old wiped his tears and performed a 'sujud syukur' (prostration of gratitude) after judge Datuk Muhammad Jamil Hussin read out his ruling today.
Jamil, in his judgement said the defence had successfully proven the case beyond reasonable doubt.
He said the prosecution failed to prove that the drugs that were found in a bag had belonged to the accused, and the room where the drugs were found was accessible to the public.
Several people who were sitting at the public gallery, believed to be Ismahalil's family, hugged each other after the judge read out his ruling.
Five prosecution witnesses testified in court.
Ismahalil had pleaded not guilty to a charge of trafficking cannabis weighing about 374.6g at a house in Jalan Semarak, Wangsa Maju here, at 5.35pm on Aug 27, 2021.
He was charged under Section 39B(1)(A) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and punishable under Section 39B(2) of the same act, which provides for the death penalty, if convicted.