The Shah Alam High Court has sentenced singer and composer Yasin Sulaiman to life imprisonment and 16 strokes of the rotan following his conviction on three drug-related charges.
Judge Norsharidah Awang announced the sentence today, overturning a previous decision by the sessions court that had acquitted and discharged Yasin last year. The prosecution’s appeal led to this new verdict.
Yasin, renowned for his hit song “Mimpi Laila,” faced charges in March 2023 for self-administering “11-nor-delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid,” a key active component of cannabis, at a Petaling Jaya police station. He was also charged with possession of 193.7 grams of cannabis and the cultivation of 17 cannabis plants at his residence in Kota Damansara. All charges fall under the Dangerous Drugs Act.
In November 2023, Yasin was ordered to undergo treatment at Hospital Bahagia in Ulu Kinta, Perak, after sessions court judge Faiz Dziyauddin ruled he was not mentally fit at the time of his arrest. Judge Faiz noted that Yasin’s manic symptoms had impaired his cognitive functions, rendering him unable to distinguish right from wrong.
Following today’s High Court decision, Yasin was transferred to Kajang prison. The singer expressed his despair, stating, “It’s a dark day for me.”
The prosecution was represented by Deputy Public Prosecutors Raja Zaizul Faridah Raja Zaharudin and Ahmad Zuhaini Mahamad Amin, while Yasin’s defense was led by Ariff Azami Hussein.
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