Kota Kinabalu: A moneylender (Ah Long) who was charged with trafficking 1,034.23gm of syabu was freed from the charge, Monday.
Seow Koon Poh, 29, was discharged and acquitted of the charge by Magistrate Stephanie Sherron Abbie after being informed by the prosecution that the chemist’s report was negative.
The prosecution during mention of the case on Monday informed the court that the chemist report was negative and applied for the charge against Seow to be withdrawn.
Seow was accused of committing the offence at 10.40pm on Jan 12 at the roadside of Lorong Beruang 1, Luyang.
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Seow was first brought to the court on Jan 26 to face the charge but no plea was recorded from him as the offence is under the High Court’s purview.
Seow, who was represented by counsel PJ Perira, has since been remanded as the charge against him has no provision for bail.
In the same court, nine people were penalised for committing drug-related offences.
Five of them Ismaili Ismail, Mohamad Awang, Zulfadli Razak, Abdul Razak and Hamzah Hamid pleaded guilty to taking syabu and amphetamine at separate locations here and in Penampang.
The prosecution tendered the chemist’s reports which stated that the five’s respective urine samples were positive for the said drugs.
Ismaili was sentenced to 16 months jail, Mohamad was jailed 12 months, while the rest were handed eight months jail each.
Taking drugs under Section 15(1) of the Dangerous Drugs Act provides for a fine of up to RM5,000 or up to two years jail, on conviction.
Meanwhile, the other four Razaleigh Matalip, Patrick Pairin, Janeh Nekolaus and Ginisius Samil admitted to having syabu.
Razaleigh was sentenced to 16 months’ jail, Patrick and Janeh jailed 10 months each while Ginisius was handed eight months jail.
The four were charged under Section 12 (2) of the Dangerous Drug Act 1952 which provides for a fine of up to RM100,000 or up to five years jail or both on conviction.
Inspector Suzie @ Stephanie Kupit prosecuted.
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