COMMENT | Eight and 10. Those were the “lucky” numbers that saved Syed Mohammad Hakimi Rahman’s life.

On June 27, 2024, the Penang High Court decided to spare his life despite him being found guilty of trafficking 801g of cannabis.

Previously, this had been a mandatory death penalty offence, but Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 was amended and the mandatory death sentence was removed. It was replaced with a discretionary death sentence for drug trafficking.

Judge Azmi Ariffin also sentenced Syed Mohammad to eight years in prison and 10 strokes of the rotan, highlighting public policy considerations that young offenders should not endure lengthy incarceration.