A popular television actor, detained under the drug preventive laws, withdrew his appeal against the High Court's dismissal of his habeas corpus to secure his release from detention.

A three-man panel comprising Federal Court judges Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin, James Foong Cheng Yuen and Abdull Hamid Embong,

subsequently struck out the appeal of Khaeryll Benjamin Ibrahim, better known as Benjy.

Lawyer Amer Hamzah Arshad told the panel that he received instructions from Benjy to withdraw the appeal. However, he did not inform the court of the reason for the withdrawal.

On May 5, this year, the Kuala Lumpur High Court had dismissed Benjy's habeas corpus application to secure his release from detention under Section 3 of the Dangerous Drugs Act (Special Preventive Measures).

However, a day before the High Court handed down its decision, Deputy Home Minister Abu Seman Yusop issued a two-year detention order on Benjy to be held at a rehabilitation centre in Muar, Johor.

NONE On March 25, Benjy, only son of veteran actress Azean Irdawaty (photo) , pleaded not guilty in the magistrate's court to possessing 0.24gm of methamphetamine at a house in A-6-5 Menara Duta 2, Jalan 1/38B, off Jalan Segambut in Kuala Lumpur at 4pm on March 11.

The 32-year-old was freed on RM2,000 bail in one surety. However, after Azean posted bail, he was re-arrested for alleged involvement in drug trafficking under Section 3 of the Dangerous Drugs Act (Special Preventive Measures).

No decision on ISA detainees' case

The court was scheduled to hear Benjy's appeal today, which was consolidated together with the appeals of eight former Internal Security Act (ISA) detainees because their appeals involved similar legal issues.

However, the quorum adjourned the appeals of the former ISA detainees to a date to be fixed because Zulkefli was unable to hear the matter in the afternoon as he had to go to Johor Bahru.

Amer Hamzah, who is also representing the former ISA detainees, requested for the appeal to be heard in afternoon.

On March 11, the High Court dismissed a writ of habeas corpus filed by the eight who were detained under the ISA for suspected terrorism after it (the court) rendered their application academic as they were no longer in police custody.

With regard to the case, seven foreigners were deported to their respective countries while Azzahari Murad, a Malaysian, was placed under restricted residence in Petaling Jaya.

- Bernama