Kota Kinabalu: An undocumented Filipino, Nabzal Antony, 32, pleaded not guilty in the High Court here on Tuesday to trafficking 101.01gm of syabu.
Nabzal, who was brought before Judge Datuk Maslinda @ Linda Mohd Ainal, faced the charge of committing the offence on Jan 13 this year at 10.30pm in front of the stairs of Star Souvenirs, Inanam Business Centre building, near Kota Kinabalu.
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The charge, framed under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act (DDA) 1952, carries a penalty of either the death sentence or life imprisonment, and whipping with a minimum of 15 strokes.
The court set June 10 for pre-trial case management and ordered the accused to be remanded further, as the charge provides no provision for bail.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Sofia S. Sawayan prosecuted, while Nabzal was represented by assigned counsel Korventt Wheezar E. Jomiji.
In a separate session at the Magistrate’s Court, 17 individuals were penalised for drug-related offences.
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Eleven of them, namely Alex Eking, Normaya Rupian, Roben Romeo, Rohaizam Rozali, Ahmad Abdullah, Razman Abdul, Mujie Jimmy, Romeo Junal, Amri Abdullah, Shahrizan Hen, and Yassil Salleh pleaded guilty before Magistrate Marilyn Kelvin to possessing syabu weighing between 2.34gm and 0.03gm.
Alex was jailed 15 months; Normaya, Roben, and Mujie received eight months each; Shahrizan was fined RM2,800 or nine months’ jail; and the remaining were each sentenced to nine months in jail.
Possession of syabu under Section 12(2) of the Dangerous Drug Act 1952 carries a penalty of up to RM100,000 fine or up to five years’ imprisonment, or both, upon conviction.
Meanwhile, Razman, Shahrizan, Md Shariza Syazizi, Abdul Saad, Chang Khun Ping, Ahmad Roslan, Ainus Sapin, and Luu Kim Ngaim pleaded guilty to consuming drugs.
Consumption of drugs, under Section 15(1) of the Dangerous Drugs Act, carries a penalty of up to RM5,000 fine or up to two years’ imprisonment, upon conviction.
Shahrizan was fined RM2,400 or eight months’ imprisonment; Ahmad RM2,300 or eight months; Ainus RM2,500 or eight months; and Luu RM2,400 or seven months.
Abdul received seven months’ imprisonment, while the remaining were sentenced to eight months each.
Inspector Yusdi Basri prosecuted the cases.
