Kota Kinabalu: A 30-year-old man claimed trial in the High Court here to trafficking 705.62gm of cannabis in Keningau.
Zachery Robertson Robert Lupang, who was brought before Judge Maslinda @ Linda Mohd Ainal, pleaded not guilty to committing the offence on July 30, this year, at 11.30am, in a house at Kg Kitung.
The charge under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act (DDA) 1952, carries a punishment of either the death penalty or life in prison and whipping with a minimum of 15 strokes.
The court set Jan 8, next year, for mention and ordered the accused remanded further as the charge against him has no provision for bail.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Sofia S. Sawayan prosecuted, while Zachery was represented by counsel Lydiana Laura Michael.
Meanwhile, in the Magistrate’s Court, a 21-year-old man has been released on a one-year good behaviour bond, with RM2,000 undeposited after pleading guilty to groping a fellow passenger on a flight to Kota Kinabalu.
Magistrate Dzul Elmy Yunus imposed the bond on Md Yusuf Affendy, who admitted to touching the 24-year-old woman’s left thigh at 9.50pm, on Aug 26, this year, in Batik Air flight bound for Kota Kinabalu.
The offence under Section 354 of the Penal Code carries up to 10 years’ jail, a fine, whipping, or a combination of these, on conviction.
Earlier, the court heard from the prosecution that on the said day, Yusuf touched the left thigh of the woman while seated beside her on Batik Air flight from Kuala Lumpur.
The complainant recorded the incident on her phone, sought assistance from a flight attendant, and changed seats.
Upon landing, she reported the matter to the police at Kota Kinabalu International Airport which led to Yusuf’s arrest the next morning.
Counsel Lim Ming Zoong @ Lawrence, representing Yusuf, applied for a lenient sentence as he was a youth offender, unemployed and regretted his action and was remorseful for the offence committed.
The prosecution applied an adequate sentence.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Kareena Kaur Gill Karamjit Singh prosecuted.
