Sandar Thadeeswaran vs. The Hon. Attorney General – CA HCC/0116/2018-2022

In the case between Sandar Thadeeswaran (Accused-Appellant) and The Hon. Attorney General (Complainant-Respondent), the central issue concerned the justification of the conviction and life sentence for possession and trafficking of heroin under the Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs Ordinance (as amended). It was held that the prosecution failed to dispel reasonable doubt regarding the possession and ownership of the heroin, notably due to the unexplained discharge of a co-arrestee, Mohamed Murshid Anwer, and the deficiencies in corroborative evidence. The principle reaffirmed is that the prosecution bears the burden of proof beyond reasonable doubt, especially in drug-related offenses, and must carefully address all potential sources of doubt. Reliance was placed on the standards of proof