Drug offender gets five years’ jail, whipping

SIBU: A habitual drug offender was ordered to be put behind bars for five years by the Sessions Court yesterday for repeated drug abuse.

Sessions Court Judge Musyiri Peet also imposed a stroke of whipping on Mathew Bitir, 34, from Sungai Pelajau, Kapit after he pleaded guilty to the charge against him.

Additionally, pursuant to Section 38 of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, Mathew will have to undergo two years’ police supervision after serving the sentence.

According to the charge sheet, he was found to have consumed dangerous drugs of amphetamine and methamphetamine at Narcotic Criminal Investigation Department Office, Kapit District Police Headquarters, without lawful purpose on Mar 5 at about 12.20 pm.

The charge further stated that since he had four previous convictions of similar offence, he had thereby committed an offence under Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 (Act 234) and punishable under Section 39C (1) of the same Act which provides for an imprisonment of not less than five years but not exceeding seven years as well as liable to whipping with not more than three strokes, if convicted.

Prosecuting officer, DPP David Bakit Nuing in outlining facts of the case, told the Court that on Mar 5 at about 12.20 pm, a team of police personnel from Narcotics Crime Investigation Department Kapit arrested the accused on suspicion of having involved in drug abuse activity.

A urine sample taken from the accused was sent to Pathology Department in Sarawak General Hospital, Kuching, for analysis.

Outcome of the investigation revealed that based on the pathology report, it was confirmed that the accused’s urine contained amphetamine and methamphetamine. These types of drugs are listed in the First Schedule of the Dangerous Drug Act 1952.

The accused, who was unrepresented by legal counsel, has a record of four convictions of similiar nature.