A French man is on trial in northern Malaysia, facing charges of drug possession and trafficking that carry the possibility of the death penalty if convicted, his lawyer confirmed Monday.
Tom Felix, 34, a former executive at French waste management company Veolia and a graduate in aquaculture and marine biology, was arrested in early August 2023. At the time, he was preparing to open a restaurant on the popular resort island of Langkawi.
Authorities discovered several hundred grams of cannabis in a shared area of the home Felix occupied with his Malaysian business partner, who was also detained.
“The trial commenced today,” said Felix’s lawyer, Collin Andrew, speaking to AFP. However, proceedings were adjourned mid-morning at the Alor Setar High Court after the prosecution’s first witness failed to bring all necessary evidence to court. The trial is set to resume Tuesday with the same witness expected to continue testimony.
Although the trial is scheduled to conclude Thursday, it remains unclear if sentencing will follow immediately.
If found guilty, Felix faces severe penalties, including the death sentence, or alternatively, up to 104 years of combined imprisonment, 54 strokes of the cane, and a €27,000 (approximately $31,000) fine, according to his mother, Sylvie Felix.
Malaysia maintains stringent laws on drug offenses, with possession or trafficking above certain quantities potentially punishable by death. While the death sentence remains on the books, it is no longer mandatory, and no executions have been carried out since 2018.
Felix’s parents have sought intervention from French President Emmanuel Macron during his recent state visit to neighboring Singapore, where the family resides.
“He listened to us and acknowledged that the situation is unacceptable,” Sylvie Felix said. “He assured us that he would do everything in his power to secure Tom’s release.”
