Unemployed man jailed 10 months for drug possession

KUCHING: A 36-year-old unemployed man was sentenced to a total of 10 months in prison after pleading guilty to possessing methamphetamine and cannabis.

Magistrate Ling Hui Chuan imposed the sentences towards Al-Hafiznurizam Adam after he pleaded guilty to possessing 0.43 gramme of methamphetamine under Section 12(2) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, punishable under Section 12(3) of the same Act.

He also admitted to possessing 1.44 grammes of cannabis, an offence under Section 6 of the Act.

The court ordered eight months’ imprisonment for the first charge and 10 months for the second, with both sentences to run concurrently from the date of his remand on May 15.

The court heard that the offences were committed at about 12:30 am on May 14, at the roadside along Jalan Datuk Temenggong Tan Meng Chong Lorong 8 here.

According to the facts of the case, police officers from the Satok Police Station were conducting a crime prevention patrol when they stopped a black Modenas MJ 100 motorcycle ridden by the accused, who was behaving suspiciously.

After the officers identified themselves, the accused handed over a black sling bag to police.

A search of the bag found a small transparent packet containing crystal-like substances suspected to be methamphetamine and five small transparent packets containing dried leaves suspected to be cannabis.

The seized items were subsequently sent to the Chemistry Department in Kuching for analysis.

A chemical report received on September 3 confirmed that the crystal substance contained methamphetamine weighing 0.43 gramme, while the five packets contained cannabis weighing 1.44 grammes.

Deputy Public Prosecutor, Muhammad Afiq Safly Nor Kazly, appeared for the prosecution, while the accused was unrepresented.