KUCHING: An unemployed man was slapped with a RM1,200 fine, in default two months’ imprisonment, after he pleaded guilty to a charge of possessing 201 psychotropic tablets four years ago.
Awang Thera Awang Kassim from Kota Samarahan was fined by Sessions Court judge Dayang Ellyin Narisa Abang Ahmad and convicted of a charge under Section 9(3) of the Poison Act 1952 and punishable under Section 32(2) of the same Act.
The Section provides for a fine not exceeding RM3,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or both. The brief facts of the case stated that at about 11.30pm on Dec 20, 2008, the accused was arrested at a parking lot near Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman by a police party. A policeman did a body search and found on him nine transparent packets each containing 20 tablets and another packet containing 21 tablets.
A chemist’s report revealed that all the tablets contained Dextromethorphan, an item listed in the First Schedule of the Poison Act 1952 in contravention of Regulation 9(1)(b) of the Poison Regulation 1952 read with Section 9(1) of same act. ASP Carl Patrick Ramesh prosecuted and Thera was not represented.
Meanwhile, in another Sessions Court room, a gang robbery suspect maintained his innocence.
Unemployed suspect Nazaruddin Ahmad, 20, appeared before judge Timothy Finlayson Joel who fixed further mention of the case on Aug 18 and also for him to engage a counsel.
Nazaruddin together with another one person still at large allegedly robbed a woman of her gold necklace at Taman Malihah at 1.30pm on June 22.
Gang robbery comes under Section 95 of the Penal Code which provides for a maximum 20 years’ imprisonment and whipping upon conviction.The court also ordered Nazaruddin to be further placed in police custody until the next hearing as he failed to furnish the bail.
DPP Poh Yih Tinn appeared for the prosecution.