In Seremban, a 34-year-old woman, who gave birth to and raised her youngest child while in jail due to being charged with drug trafficking two years ago, has been acquitted and discharged by the High Court.
Judge Datin Rohani Ismail acquitted R. Devaki after the prosecution failed to prove their case against her.
“After reviewing the evidence and assessing all aspects, the court concludes that the prosecution was unable to establish the charge against the accused.
“Therefore, the accused is now acquitted and discharged,” stated Judge Datin Rohani Ismail.
Devaki was accused of trafficking 237.8g of cannabis at a residence in Bandar Dataran Segar in Port Dickson at approximately 7.30pm on August 4, 2021.
She was charged under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the death penalty under Section 39B (2) of the same legislation.
Judge Datin Rohani Ismail also advised Devaki to be cautious when choosing her friends in the future.
“Going forward, please prioritize the well-being of your son and yourself. Be mindful when forming new friendships,” she advised.
Devaki, who stood in the dock, expressed her gratitude to the judge by folding her hands.
At the time of her arrest, Devaki was five months pregnant.
Despite her incarceration at the Sg Udang prison in Melaka, Devaki delivered her fourth child, a boy who is now 17 months old, while in custody.
Haresh Mahadevan and Ramzani Idris represented Devaki, while Sharifah Maleeha Syed Hussin acted as the prosecutor.
After the court proceedings, Devaki, who already has three older children, stated that her first priority was to pray for her release.
“I’m saddened that my son was born while I was in prison, but at least I’m free now.
“Also, I will always remember the judge’s advice about being cautious when forming new friendships,” she added.
Devaki also expressed her gratitude to the court for granting her a trial date earlier than anticipated.
According to the case’s evidence, the police discovered the drugs buried in the backyard of Devaki’s rented house during a raid.
Nevertheless, Devaki denied having any knowledge of the drugs.
At the time, her husband was working in Korea, and the couple has since divorced.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
