Kota Kinabalu: A medical practitioner will go trial on a charge of having unregistered Ivermectin products.
Dr Nicholas James, 46, changed his plea to not guilty when his case was brought up for mention before Sessions Court Judge Elsie Primus, on Friday.
The court fixed April 6, for pre-trial case management.
Dr Nickolas is accused of having 100 strips of Biomec 12 Ivermectin BP 12mg which were not registered with the Health Ministry.
He allegedly had the Ivermectin on Aug 23, 2021 at 12.35pm at a clinic in Api-Api Centre here.
The offence under Regulation 30(1) of the same Regulations 1984, which is punishable under Section 12(1) of the Sale of Drugs Act 1952, carries a fine of up to RM25,000 or imprisonment of up to three years or both, on conviction.
Earlier, counsel Bartholomew Jinggulam who represented Dr Nicholas informed the court that his client wished to change his plea.
On Jan 28, Dr Nicholas who was unrepresented at the time had admitted to the charge against him saying that he did not want to prolong the case.
During the previous proceedings, he told the court that he bought the
Ivermectin products for his family members’ use only as to prevent from Covid-19 and has no intention to sell them to the public.
Chief Assistant Director of the Pharmacy Department Ahmad Najib appeared for the prosecution.
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