Dr M: Guan Eng was a victim of selective persecution

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said yesterday there is a need to review the charges against a medical marijuana distributor sentenced to death for aiding patients with chronic diseases.

Dr Mahathir, commenting on the case of Muhammad Lukman Mohamad, 29, who was sentenced to death for possessing, processing and distributing medical marijuana (cannabis oil), said he did not agree with the outcome of the issue.

“No, I think we should review that,” he said.

Lukman was arrested in December 2015 for possessing 3.1 litres of cannabis oil, 279g of compressed cannabis and 1.4kg of substance containing tetrahydrocan nabinol.

He and his wife were arrested at their home. His wife was later freed. Lukman was sentenced to death by the Shah Alam High Court on Aug 30.

Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 states that individuals caught possessing 200g or more of cannabis can be charged with drug trafficking, which carries the mandatory death penalty.

Lukman’s case caught the attention of Permatang Pauh member of parliament Nurul Izzah Anwar, who said she would be appealing to Attorney-General Tommy Thomas to seek a pardon for Lukman.

Lukman’s lawyer, Farhan Maaruf, was quoted as saying that his client only wanted to help patients suffering from ailments and that he was not distributing cannabis on the streets.