The “Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952” Course was held on 24th-25th September 2021 (Friday-Saturday) at the Banquet Hall, Palace of Justice, Putrajaya. The seminar aimed at providing Judges/Judicial Commissioners with a comprehensive understanding of certain aspects of the law of Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952. This was the third programme under the Judicial Academy Malaysia in 2021 and the second to be conducted online via the Zoom Meeting application. The programme has been conducted in compliance with the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) to control the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

A total of 70 participants consisting of four Federal Court Judges, 31 High Court Judges, 33 Judicial Commissioners, and 2 Deputy Registrars/Special Officers/Research Officers attended this programme.

The one and a half-day programme began on the first day with an opening by The Right Honourable Tun Tengku Maimun Binti Tuan Mat, Chief Justice of Federal Court, Malaysia. The programme was then continued with two talks in the morning session on “Duty of Trial Judge at the End of the Case for Prosecution” by The Honourable Dato’ Abdul Rahman bin Sebli, Federal Court Judge and “Duty of Trial Judge after the Trial” by The Right Honourable Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Azahar bin Mohamed, Chief Judge of the High Court in Malaya. The talk on “Common Mistakes Made by Trial Judge in Adjudicating Section 39B Cases” was delivered in the afternoon session by The Honourable Datuk Seri Haji Mohd. Zawawi bin Salleh, Federal Court Judge cum Chairman of the Training Committee of the Judicial Academy Malaysia; The Honourable Datuk Yaacob bin Haji Md. Sam, Judge of the Court of Appeal; and The Honourable Datuk Abdul Karim bin Abdul Jalil, Judge of the Court of Appeal.

A total of four Presentations and Discussions on Specific Topics by Participants were presented on the second day with The Honourable Dato’ Nordin bin Hassan, Judge of the Court of Appeal acted as the moderator. The topics were “The Defence of Innocent Carrier” by The Honourable Tuan Mohamed Zaini bin Mazlan, High Court Judge; “Alcontara Notice” by The Honourable Dato’ Abd. Wahab bin Mohamed, High Court Judge; and “Problems Faced by Trial Judges in Conducting Criminal Trial” by 2 Judicial Commissioners, namely The Honourable Dr Shahnaz Binti Sulaiman and The Honourable Puan Nurulhuda Nur’aini Binti Mohamed Nor.