SANDAKAN: The Sessions Court here on Tuesday sentenced a local man to a fine of RM8,000 or 10 months’ imprisonments for possessing 480 millilitres of ketum juice in December last year.
Judge Roslinda Razali imposed the sentence after Rafsanzani Suharto, 30, pleaded guilty to committing the offence on Dec 23, 2025 at about 2.30pm by the roadside in front of the Batu Satu Setengah housing complex along Jalan Buli Sim-Sim, here.
The court heard that during an inspection by police from the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Division of the Sandakan District Police Headquarters, Rafsanzani was seen behaving suspiciously and was subsequently detained for further investigation together with the seized item.
In a separate case heard in the same court, a Filipino man, Asmat Alif Nasir, 29, was sentenced to 10 months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to possessing six bottles containing 8,820 millilitres of ketum juice and 890.8 grams of ketum powder.
The offence was committed at a house in Kampung Sungai Kayu along Jalan Sungai Kayu–Airport, Batu 7, Sandakan, during an inspection conducted by police from the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Division of the Sandakan District Police Headquarters on Dec 29, 2025.
Rafsanzani and Asmat were charged under Section 30(3) of the Poisons Act 1952.
Rafsanzani paid the fine, while Asmat will be referred to the Immigration Department after completing his prison sentence.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Yuvan Bharathan.
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