BENJAMIN WILLIAM HAWKES v. PP
FEDERAL COURT, PUTRAJAYA
ROHANA YUSUF PCA
AZAHAR MOHAMED CJ (MALAYA)
ABANG ISKANDAR CJ (SABAH & SARAWAK)
NALLINI PATHMANATHAN FCJ
VERNON ONG LAM KIAT FCJ
ABDUL RAHMAN SEBLI FCJ
ZALEHA YUSOF FCJ
ZABARIAH MOHD YUSOF FCJ
HASNAH MOHAMMED HASHIM FCJ
[CRIMINAL APPEAL NO: 05-214-09-2017(K)]
13 AUGUST 2020
[2020] CLJ JT (9)

CRIMINAL LAW: Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 - Section 39B(1)(a) - Trafficking - Conviction and sentence - Appeal against - Failure by prosecution during trial to adduce CCTV footage - Whether fatal to prosecution's case - Whether prosecution in breach of s. 51A(1)(b) of Criminal Procedure Code ('CPC') - Whether court obliged to construe word 'shall' in s. 51A(1) as mandatory - Whether CCTV footage fell within ambit of 'documents' as envisaged under s. 51A(1)(b) - Whether prosecution withheld or suppressed evidence of CCTV footage - Whether adverse inference under s. 114(g) of Evidence Act 1950 ought to be invoked - Whether non-disclosure of CCTV footage infringed principle of right to fair trial - Whether conviction and sentence ought to be upheld - Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, s. 37(da)

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE: Disclosure of information - Trial - Trafficking in dangerous drugs - Failure by prosecution during trial to adduce CCTV footage - Whether fatal to prosecution's case - Whether prosecution in breach of s. 51A(1)(b) of Criminal Procedure Code ('CPC') - Whether court obliged to construe word 'shall' in s. 51A(1) as mandatory -Whether CCTV footage fell within ambit of 'documents' as envisaged under s. 51A(1)(b) - Whether prosecution withheld or suppressed evidence of CCTV footage - Whether adverse inference under s. 114(g) of Evidence Act 1950 ought to be invoked - Whether non-disclosure of CCTV footage infringed principle of right to fair trial