Bus driver gets jail, rotan for having drugs dangerous drug

0

SIBU: A bus driver was jailed nine years and given 10 strokes of the cane by the High Court here yesterday for possessing 56.53 g of methamphetamine.

Kho Gar Seng, 41, was caught committing the offence at a house in Bunga Raya Road here on July 29 last year.

An alternative charge under Section 39A (2) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, was filed against him which provides for at least five years’ jail and 10 strokes of the cane.

Kho, who has five children, aged between 10 and 17, was initially charged under Section 39B (1) (a) of the same act which carries the mandatory death sentence upon conviction.

However, he was offered the alternative charge by DPP Franklin Ganggan Bennet on Monday, to which he pleaded guilty.

Defence counsel Ben Lau Le Bin told the court that Kho had expressed remorse and regret over his action.

“It was his first offence,” he added. Lau also said the type of drug found in Kho’s possession was methamphetamine which was not as obnoxious or deleterious as heroin, morphine, monoacetylmorphines, cocaine or cannabis.

“Its weight was also not substantial,” he added.

Justice Supang Lian ordered the sentence to run from the date of arrest – July 29, 2011.