EX-PAINTER SENT TO GALLOWS

PENANG: Former painter Chuah Kok Eng was sentenced to death by a
High Court for trafficking 271.9g of cannabis.

Chuah, 47, was seen shaking his head when the court interpreter
explained the death sentence to him.

He then turned around towards the public gallery where his wife Ong
Lean Ean was seated and shook his head as though he was in a state of
disbelief.

When Ong signalled to Chuah that she did not understand what he was
trying to tell her, Chuah then put his hand around his neck indicating
that he would be hung.

Later, when Chuah was led out of the courtroom, Ong came out
sobbing.

Chuah was found guilty at the end of the defence case of committing
the offence at a house in Jalan Jelutong at 12.45am on Nov 3, 2001.

In passing judgment, Justice Abdul Rahim Uda said the defence had
failed to raise a reasonable doubt in the case.

The court also impeached Ong's evidence due to material contradictions
in her testimony.

During trial, prosecution witnesses had testified that Chuah was seen
throwing a plastic packet containing the drugs out of a window in a
room at his house.