Kota Kinabalu: A construction worker was freed by the High Court here from a charge of trafficking 54.24gm of syabu.
Judge Datuk Duncan Sikodol on Thursday acquitted and discharged Paulos Yohanes of the charge without his defence being called.
Duncan ruled that the court had found the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against Paulos on the charge he faced.
window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []};googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.defineSlot('/22826383987/dailyexpress_inline', [1, 1], 'gpt-passback').addService(googletag.pubads());googletag.enableServices();googletag.display('gpt-passback');});Paulos, 34, was accused of trafficking 54.24gm of syabu on Aug 7, 2023 at 3.30pm, at the roadside in front of a factory, Jalan Tuaran – Kota Belud, in Tuaran.
The charge under Section 39B (1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act (DDA) 1952 carries a punishment of either the death penalty or life in prison and whipping with a minimum of 15 strokes on conviction.
The prosecution had called five witnesses to testify in the trial.
Paulos, who had been remanded since being arrested, thanked his counsel after the proceedings.
He was represented by counsel Edward Paul.
Meanwhile, a 38-year-old man was sentenced to five months jail by the Magistrate’s Court here for theft.
Azizul Maslin, unemployed, pleaded guilty before Magistrate Wan Farrah Farriza Wan Ghazali to stealing 24 cans of Guinness Stout 500ml worth RM357.60 worth from the 7-Eleven outlet at Gaya Street, on Feb 5, this year, at 5.15am.
He was charged under Section 380 of the Penal Code which carries a jail term of up to 10 years and liability of a fine on conviction.
The court heard from the prosecution that the incident happened at 5.15am on Feb 5, when the complainant noticed the carton of alcoholic beverages missing from the display area opposite the cashier counter.
The complainant suspected a man, later identified as Azizul, who had briefly spoken to him before leaving without making any purchase.
CCTV footage later confirmed that Azizul had taken the carton and left without paying.
A police report was lodged, and on Feb 7, at 9.30pm, the police arrested Azizul in Kg Air.
