The High Court has set the date for the hearing of a bail pending appeal application by self-employed businessman Imran Khan, also known as “King Khan”.

Khan appeared before Justice Pita Bulamainaivalu in the High Court this morning.

He is appealing his conviction and sentence for possession of methamphetamine and is seeking an order to set aside his conviction and sentence, or have the sentence substituted with a non-custodial penalty.

Khan is represented by private counsel Shayal Kant.

He was sentenced by Magistrate Yogesh Prasad in June this year to four years and three months’ imprisonment, with a non-parole period of three years, after he was convicted of possessing 4.1364 grams of methamphetamine.

The drugs were concealed in a modified water bottle inside his vehicle in 2023.

The appeal challenges the fairness of the trial process, the handling of evidence and the severity of the sentence imposed.

The defence also submitted that, after judgment was delivered, it sought to reopen the case based on what it described as new and material evidence.

However, the application was refused by the Magistrate.

The defence argues that the refusal resulted in a denial of procedural fairness and a miscarriage of justice.

It also contends that the sentence imposed was excessive in the circumstances of the case.

Justice Bulamainaivalu informed the parties that the High Court is yet to receive the transcript of the proceedings.

The State has been given 14 days to respond to the bail pending appeal application.

The matter has been adjourned to the 23rd of October for bail pending appeal hearing.