Construction worker gets 10-year jail, 10 strokes for possessing ganja

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IPOH: A construction worker was sentenced to 10 years’ jail and 10 strokes of rotan by the High Court here yesterday after he pleaded guilty to possessing 883.95 grammes ganja in September last year.

Judge Datuk Zainal Adzam Abdul Ghani ordered the sentence on Khairunizam Mohamed, 36, effective from his date of arrest on Sept 29, 2011. Khairunizam was charged with possessing the ganja in a house at 20, Jalan Sekolah, Rumah
Murah Chemor at 2pm on Sept 29.

“After decades, drug abuse is still a big problem for the country, all because of people like you,” he said while giving judgment on the case.

Zainal Adzam said fortunately, Khairunizam was offered an alternative charge which did not carry the mandatory death sentence upon conviction.

The charge under Section 6 of Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 provides for minimum five years’ jail and maximum life sentence and at least 10 strokes of
rotan.

Khairunizam had pleaded not guilty to trafficking ganja under Section 39B of the same Act which provides for the mandatory death sentence. However, he changed his plea to guilty after the prosecution offered the alternative
charge.

Meanwhile his wife Kisnawita Saad, 34, who was also charged under Section 39B of the Act was discharged not amounting to acquitttal by the court.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Iskandar Shah Ibrahim prosecuted while Charan Singh and Amir Faliq Mohamed Jamil appeared for Khairunizam and Kisnawita. — Bernama