20 party-goers charged with drug abuse

TAWAU: Twenty people, including eight women, all of whom had attended a party in Taman Nordin here last week, were yesterday charged with drug abuse.

The party-goers, aged between 21 and 31, tested positive for drugs after undergoing tests at the district police station between June 31 and July 1 following their arrest.

All of them were charged under Section 15 (1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which is punishable under Section 15(1) of the same act that provides for a fine of not more than RM5,000 or imprisonment of not more than two years.

No plea was recorded after the charge was read by a translator to all the accused before magistrate Dzul Elmy Yunus.

All the accused were unrepresented.

The magistrate granted RM1,800 bail with two local sureties to 17 of them and fixed Aug 4 and 8 for case mention.

Three Indonesians, Kimberley Hendrikus, 24, Abdul Sidi Mulpi, 29, and Mohd Iqbal Japar, 22, were fined RM1,000 after pleading guilty to flouting the Recovery Movement Control Order (MCO), in default of 30 days’ imprisonment.

The trio would also be referred to the Immigration Department.

Other locals were fined RM1,000 each for joining the party.

In meting out the sentence, Dzul Elmy said the act of mass gathering for the purpose of socialising was irresponsible as it defeated the purpose of the country’s attempt to break the Covid-19 chain of infection through the implementation of the MCO.

Prosecuting officer Dg Nur Azarinawaty Ag Kachee appeared for the prosecution.