Two syabu offenders jailed
KOTA KINABALU: An unemployed man, who has a syabu consumption conviction, was sentenced to five years’ jail and ordered to be given one stroke of the cane by the Sessions Court here yesterday for repeating a similar offence the third time.
Judge Elsie Primus meted out the sentence against Azrul Maggran, 36, after he pleaded guilty to a charge under Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act (DDA)1952 punishable under Section 39C(1)(b) of the same Act.
The offence carries an imprisonment of up to seven years and whipping of not more than three strokes, if convicted.
Upon completing the jail sentence, the court ordered the accused to be placed under police supervision for three years.
Azrul had admitted to committing the offence on June 19.
The prosecution submitted that an inspection at the Malaysia and Singapore criminal record registration center revealed that the accused had two previous convictions for methamphetamine abuse on Oct 22, 2018 when he was fined RM1,700, in default, eight months’ jail and Aug 24, 2020 when he was jailed for eight months.
During mitigation, Azrul requested for a lenient sentence as he is a divorcee and has three children to take care of.
However, the prosecution urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence on the grounds that the accused had committed a serious offence and he was a habitual offender.
The prosecution further submitted that a heavier sentence would serve as a lesson to the accused and to the public at large not to commit similar offences in future.
Meanwhile, another jobless man was sentenced to five years’ jail and one stroke of the cane by the same court for committing a similar offence.
Nor Ikhwan Norekram, 26, admitted to committing the offence on August 11, 2021.
During mitigation, Nor Ikhwan, who was unrepresented, requested for sentence leniency as he has to take care of his mother.
However, the prosecution urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence on the accused and submitted that he has two previous convictions for methamphetamine on Nov 13, 2018 where he was sentenced to eight months behind bars and on June 25, 2020 where he served the same sentence length.