Kota Kinabalu: A 35-year-old man was sentenced to three years and five months for obstructing a Customs officer from performing his duty, three years ago.
Magistrate Lovely Natasha Charles found parcel runner Mohd Zakhuan Arief Isah guilty of committing the offence at 11.45am on Sept 2, 2020 at the Gdex, Mile 5, Lorong Perindustrian Kolombong near here.
The offence under Section 136(a) of the Customs Act 1967 carries a jail term of up to five years or a fine of up to RM500,000 or to both on conviction.
The Magistrate ordered Zakhuan to serve the sentence from the date of his arrest on Sept 2, 2020.
Zakhuan, who was represented by counsel Azhier Farhan, was ordered on Nov 23, 2022 to enter his defence in which he was the sole witness in his defence.
The prosecution had called two witnesses to testify at the prosecution’s stage.
It was revealed during the trial that Zakhuan tried to escape when he rammed the Customs Department’s vehicle by reversing several times and that he was arrested after being forced out of his vehicle.
Zakhuan is currently held under remand as he is facing another charge of drugs trafficking and in the midst of a trial at the High Court here.
Customs Prosecuting Officer Norhayati Ahmad Saib prosecuted.
In another case, a self-employed man was charged with committing mischief by cutting a 13 feet long cable.
Datu Mohammad Ali Mohd Ghani, 32, pleaded not guilty to cutting the cable belonging to Telekom Malaysia Berhad at 11.45pm on Jan 9, this year by the roadside of Jalan Mergastua near the SJK (C) Chung Hwa, Likas here.
He allegedly committed the offence along with two accomplices still at large.
The charge under Section 431A of the Penal Code carries a jail term of up to two years or fine or both on conviction.
The prosecution in applying for another mention date proposed bail at RM4,000 in two sureties.
The court set Feb 23 for case management and released Ali on a bail of RM1,500 in two sureties.
Inspector Kelvan Elson Maik prosecuted while Ali was not represented.
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