Student acquitted of possessing drugs

KOTA KINABALU: The Sessions Court here yesterday acquitted and discharged a 20year-old student from a charge of possessing 198.8 grams of cannabis.

Judge Azreena Aziz made the decision on Darry Ivan Donis after she ruled that the prosecution had failed to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt.

Darry was arraigned on May 15, 2017, and pleaded not guilty to possessing the drugs in front of a bank at Api-Api Centre here at 8pm on February 12, 2017.

He was charged under Section 6 of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and punishable under Section 39A (2) of the same Act.

The indictment provides for life imprisonment or a jail term of not less than five years and also liable to whipping of not less than 10 strokes, upon conviction.

Throughout the trial, the prosecution had called four witnesses to testify against Darry while two defence witnesses had testified.

Darry was represented by counsel Datuk Norbert Chin.

Meanwhile, a 22-year-old man will know his fate on April 19 this year at the Sessions Court here for robbing a woman using a machete.

Judge Noor Hafizah Mohd Salim set the date for Mohd Syafiq Akmal Mohd Sukri pending his social report.

Mohd Syafiq, who appeared before the judge for a trial, changed his plea and pleaded guilty to the charge under Section 395/397 of the Penal Code which carries a jail term of up to 20 years and whipping, upon conviction.

The accused had robbed one Rita Maah, 47, of her two cellphones, a power bank and RM1,130 cash at Kedai Runcit Ala Mambo in Kampung Bontoi, Tamparuli at 2.35pm on October 8.

He had committed the offence with accomplices who are still at large.

Earlier, counsel Chong Kian Ming, who represented the accused, told the court that his client was below 21 years old when the alleged offence was committed. Therefore, he requested for a social report.

Deputy public prosecutor Dinesh Raja who acted for the prosecution, confirmed the age of the accused.