A French national, Tom Felix, appeared before the High Court in Alor Setar, northern Malaysia, on Monday to face charges of cannabis possession and drug trafficking — offences that carry severe penalties, including the possibility of the death sentence.
Felix, 34, a former executive at the French waste management firm Veolia and a graduate in aquaculture and marine biology, was reportedly preparing to launch a restaurant on the picturesque island of Langkawi when he was arrested in early August 2023. Malaysian authorities discovered several hundred grams of cannabis in a shared area of a residence he was occupying with his Malaysian business partner, who was also detained.
Felix’s lawyer, Collin Andrew, confirmed to AFP that the trial commenced on Monday morning but was adjourned due to the prosecution’s first witness failing to present some required items in court. The proceedings are set to resume on Tuesday with the same witness continuing their testimony. The trial is expected to conclude by Thursday, though it remains unclear whether sentencing will follow immediately.
If convicted, Felix faces a potential death penalty or, alternatively, a combined punishment of 104 years in prison, 54 strokes of the cane, and a €27,000 ($31,000) fine, according to his mother, Sylvie Felix.
Malaysia enforces some of the world’s toughest drug laws. While the death penalty remains legally permissible for trafficking charges involving significant quantities of narcotics, mandatory death sentences have been abolished. Notably, no executions have been carried out in the country since 2018.
Felix’s parents, who reside in Singapore, recently raised his case during French President Emmanuel Macron’s official visit to the city-state. “He heard us and said that this situation is indeed unacceptable and that he would do everything possible to ensure Tom’s release,” said Sylvie Felix.
