23 convicted of possessing and consuming drugs

KOTA KINABALU: Twentythree people were convicted by the Magistrate’s Court here yesterday of separate charges of possessing and consuming syabu.

In the first case, eight men were fined after they pleaded guilty before magistrate Aizat Abd Rahim to their charges framed under Section 12 (2) of the Dangerous Drugs Act (DDA) 1952 which carries a fine of up to RM100,000 or a maximum jail of five years, upon conviction.

Almin Haran was fined RM4,800, Mohd Azlin Johny was fined RM2,500, Mazlie Awang and Lamansa Langkuring were each fined RM2,400, Syazwie Ramle was fined RM2,200, Rudy Mohd Nasir was fined RM2,100 while Aki Abdullah and Alan Abas were each jailed for 13 months.

The court also ordered the accused, who were fined, to be jailed between six and 13 months if they failed to pay their fines.

In the second case, 16 men were jailed and fined after they admitted to their charges of consuming syabu.

Muhammad Aidi, Salsain Jailani, Rijidon Angoh and Ngu Shu Khan were fined RM2,200 each; Mohd Rizzan Harman and Ruslan Nooh were each fined RM2,100; Lamansa, Lakuntara Bona, Zamri Gali, Dul Latip Daud, Md Malik Imam Karim and Suhaimi A. Wahid were each fined RM2,000; while Md Nasir Mohd was jailed for eight months, Jarip Sandigo and Abdul Nasir Abdullah were each jailed for seven months and Topi Topi Jul was jailed for six months.

Prosecuting officer Inspector Suzie@ Stephanie Kupit told the court that all the accused persons were arrested during separate operations here between March and October.

The court also ordered Aki, Alan, Jarip, Topi Topi, Abdul Nasir, Md Nasir to be referred to the Immigration Department after serving their jail terms while the rest of the accused, who consumed syabu but have valid travel documents, will be placed under police supervision for two years.