Kota Kinabalu: A 28-year-old man was fined RM10,000 or 10 months’ jail by the Sessions Court for having 3,700ml of Mitragynine (ketum) liquid in Tuaran.
Azlan Rusman pleaded guilty before Judge Amir Shah Amir Hassan to having 3,700ml of the psychotropic substance mitragynine in his control at 2.30pm, on July 15 this year, in front of a house in Kg Pensurun, Mengkabong.
The offence under Section 30(3) of the Poisons Act 1952, punishable under Section 30(5) of the same Act, provides for a fine of up to RM100,000 or a jail term of up to five years or both, on conviction.
The court heard from Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Bryan Francis, who prosecuted that Tuaran police team detained Azlan during an operation at the location that afternoon.
During inspection, Azlan pointed out three plastic bottles on the house veranda containing green-coloured liquid, suspected to be processed ketum, amounting to about 3.5 litres.
The bottles were seized, and Azlan was taken into custody.
The items were later sent to the Chemistry Department, here on July 17, where analysis confirmed the contents to be 3,700ml of mitragynine.
Azlan asked the court for leniency, saying he was unemployed and had family dependents to support.
DPP Bryan urged for a deterrent sentence on the grounds that Azlan was found with a large quantity of a psychotropic poison.
He said that public interest must be protected, and that a strong message should be sent to the public at large.
