26 charged with drugrelated cases in Kapit

Of the 26 people charged, 15 have pleaded guilty and were sentenced to between three months and five years in prison; a fine of between RM2,500 and RM4,500 and two years of police surveillance; while one was sent to rehabilitation school in Kuching for three years. DSP Freddy Bian

KAPIT: A total of 26 suspects, including three women, were charged in the Magistrate’s Court here on Monday and Tuesday with 31 drug-related charges under various sections of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.

They were aged between 16 and 58 years.

“Of the 26 people charged, 15 have pleaded guilty and were sentenced to between three months and five years in prison; a fine of between RM2,500 and RM4,500 and two years of police surveillance; while one was sent to rehabilitation school in Kuching for three years,” Kapit police chief DSP Freddy Bian said in a statement yesterday.

He said for the two suspects charged under Section 39C, one pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five years in prison and one stroke of the rotan, while the other is awaiting further mention of the case on Nov 19.

Freddy said another 10 would also be brought to court for further mention of their cases on Nov 19.

“From January this year until now, Kapit police have taken action against 11 repeat drug addicts under Section 39C who can be sentenced to imprisonment of not less than five years and not more than seven years, and not more than three strokes of the rotan,” he explained.

He said the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Division is currently in the process of locating several more people who have been sentenced more than twice under Section 15 (1)(a) for drug abuse, to be prosecuted under Section 39C of the same Act.

Freddy added continuous action is always being carried out to curb drug-related activities in Kapit and Bukit Mabong districts.