Man charged with possessing ketum leaves

KOTA KINABALU: A man was charged at the Magistrate’s Court here with possessing leaves allegedly containing Mitragynine or locally known as ketum, which is listed as a psychotropic substance under the Poisons Act 1952.

No plea was recorded from Zeffry Mahdi, 37, who appeared before magistrate Mohamad Aizat Abdul Rahim yesterday.

Zeffry was arrested for allegedly possessing the leaves in front of the Customs Department at 12.15pm on December 24.

The charge, under Section 30 (3) and punishable under Section 30 (5) both of the same Act 1952, carries a fine of up to RM10,000 or a maximum jail of four years or both, upon conviction.

The court fixed January 24 to re-mention the case and released the accused on RM2,500 bail with two local sureties.

Zeffry was also ordered to report once in two weeks to the investigating officer of the case, pending the disposal of his case.

Prosecuting officer Inspector Suzie@ Stephanie Kupit asked for an adjournment pending the production of an analysis report of the leaves.

In another Magistrate’s Court here, a man claimed trial to a cheating charge.

Mohd Nassir Aziz, 27, who appeared before magistrate Afiq Agoes, was accused of deceiving the victim by saying that the accused had managed to get a tender and induced the victim to give the accused RM3,000 at a cafe here at 2.30pm on February 6.

The court set January 4 for the pre-trial case management and granted the accused’s RM2,400 bail with two local sureties.