KUCHING: A driver was sentenced a total of seven years’ jail and six strokes of the rotan for possessing dangerous drugs namely Syabu and MDMA two years ago.
Roslan Rupuri, 49, pleaded guilty before Magistrate Zulhairil Sulaiman who also imposed a RM7,000 fine, in default three months’ jail, after he pleaded guilty to consuming the drug.
For the first charge, Roslan admitted possessing 21.64g of Syabu and was sentenced to four years’ jail and three lashes.
For the second charge of possessing 7.28g of MDMA, he was sentenced to three years’ jail and three lashes. This was altogether seven years in jail and the court ordered the custodial sentence to run concurrently.
Roslan and his wife Dayang Zaridah Abang Safian, 28, were arrested at a transit point in Batu Kawa New Township around 3am on July 27, 2012.
Dayang Zaridah was discharged not amounting to acquittal from all the charges.
They were previously jointly charged in court.
Roslan, a former government servant, was convicted under Section Section 12(2) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and punishable under Section 39A(1) of the same act for the drug possession offences.
The section provides for imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than two years but not exceeding five years as well as not less than three lashes but not more than nine.
For the charge of consuming drug, he was convicted under Section 15(1)(a) of the same act which carries a fine not exceeding RM5,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years.
Roslan who was not represented by any defence counsel during mitigation pleaded for a lenient sentence as he has four young children and some are schooling.
DPP Samira Khalili prosecuted.