Foreigner jailed, caned over drugs

KOTA KINABALU: A foreigner was sentenced to four years in jail and three strokes of the cane for possessing 13.65 grams of syabu.

Sessions Court judge Elsie Primus imposed the sentence on Basil Andil after he pleaded guilty to the offence yesterday.

Basil was arrested after he was found in possession of the drugs at Kampung Lokub in Manggatal at noon on September 26, 2019.

The offence was framed under Section 12(2) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and read together with Section 39A (1) of the same Act.

Based on facts of the case, two packets of plastic containing drugs were found on him and later confirmed to be 12.65 grammes of syabu.

In mitigation, Basil pleaded for a lenient sentence while deputy public prosecutor Mas Izzaty Lokman requested a deterrent sentence to be imposed against the accused.

The court also ordered Basil to serve the sentence from the date of his arrest and to be referred to the Immigration Department after serving the sentence.

Meanwhile, another man was charged at the same court with consuming drugs.

Mashfirul Suhaili claimed trial before the judge to the offence which took place at Papar police station at 2.15pm on May 21.

Mashfirul has a previous criminal record of committing a similar offence under Section 39C (1) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.

Therefore, currently he is charged under Section 39C (2) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 which carries a jail term of between seven and 13 years and whipping between three and six strokes and to be placed under police supervision for not more than three years, upon conviction.

The court fixed June 23 this year for a re-mention and ordered Mashriful to be further detained pending disposal of the case.