Tiong exits the courtroom in handcuffs.
KUCHING: The High Court here yesterday sentenced a self-employed man to 12 years in prison and 10 strokes of the rotan for possessing 83.96 grams of methamphetamine.
Justice Stephen Chung imposed the sentence on Tiong Teck Hwong, who pleaded guilty to the charge framed against him under Section 12(2) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which is punishable under Section 39A(2) of the same Act.
The Section provides for a minimum of five years to life in prison and not less than 10 strokes of the rotan.
He initially faced the death penalty under Section 39B of the same Act, but after a representation by the prosecutor was given the alternative charge.
According to the facts of the case, on Jan 3 this year, a team of police detained two men in a car due to their suspicious behaviour.
A body search on the driver did not find anything, but the passenger’s sling bag had transparent plastic packets containing a substance believed to be drugs.
Chemistry lab tests later revealed the substance to be methamphetamine.
In mitigation, Tiong, who was represented by lawyer Hani Iryani Bonny, said this was his first offence and pleaded for the minimum imprisonment term without caning for a second chance at life.
DPP Mohd Filanny Siji prosecuted the case.