This one is for the movies.
Malaysian bus driver Veeramani Manikam is finally free to walk away after being in remand for almost four years since being convicted by a district court in 2013 for importing drugs through the Woodlands Checkpoint.
Two wrapped bundles of cannabis, as well as the controlled drug Nimetazepam, were found under the bonnet of the Proton Wira he was in.
Manikam had always maintained his innocence, but he did not have representation during his trial and investigating officers did not exert enough effort to apply due diligence, said High Court Jutice Chan Seng Onn.
The judge this week overturned Manikam's 20 1/2 years jail sentence and 20 strokes of the cane, after assigning him pro bono representation two days into his appeal.
According to Maikam, "a customer, known as 'Singer' in court documents, asked him to help him return to Singapore. A colleague named Ravi lent him the Proton Wira, on condition Singer did the driving as Mr Manikam had been drinking heavily that night. Mr Manikam was to drive the car back," reports The Straits Times.
He fell asleep and woke up just before the customs clearance in Malaysia. Singer had disappeared. Customs officer told Manikam to drive on to Singapore or face arrest. Since there was no U-turn, he continued into Singapore where he was arrested by oficers, adds the report.
Justice Chan said in a statement that Manikam's story was credible.
Photo: Wikipedia
This one is for the movies.
Malaysian bus driver Veeramani Manikam is finally free to walk away after being in remand for almost four years since being convicted by a district court in 2013 for importing drugs through the Woodlands Checkpoint.
Two wrapped bundles of cannabis, as well as the controlled drug Nimetazepam, were found under the bonnet of the Proton Wira he was in.
Manikam had always maintained his innocence, but he did not have representation during his trial and investigating officers did not exert enough effort to apply due diligence, said High Court Jutice Chan Seng Onn.
The judge this week overturned Manikam's 20 1/2 years jail sentence and 20 strokes of the cane, after assigning him pro bono representation two days into his appeal.
According to Maikam, "a customer, known as 'Singer' in court documents, asked him to help him return to Singapore. A colleague named Ravi lent him the Proton Wira, on condition Singer did the driving as Mr Manikam had been drinking heavily that night. Mr Manikam was to drive the car back," reports The Straits Times.
He fell asleep and woke up just before the customs clearance in Malaysia. Singer had disappeared. Customs officer told Manikam to drive on to Singapore or face arrest. Since there was no U-turn, he continued into Singapore where he was arrested by oficers, adds the report.
Justice Chan said in a statement that Manikam's story was credible.
Photo: Wikipedia