KUCHING: A Nigerian man was sentenced to death by the High Court here yesterday after being found guilty of trafficking 220 grammes of Syabu.
Judicial Commissioner Dean Wayne Daly made the ruling on Jonas Chihurumnanya after finding that the latter’s defence had failed to raise reasonable doubt on his case.
Jonas, who is believed to be a liaison officer for Nigerian students here, was arrested by police at the parking space of a popular fast-food restaurant chain at Jalan Canna, here on June 7, 2016.
Clad in a black T-shirt, Jonas, represented by counsels Lim Lian Kee and Wit Malang, appeared calm when the sentence was delivered.
A total of nine prosecution witnesses appeared during the trial, while Jonas made a statement under oath when entering his defence.
Jonas was initially jointly charged with another accused, Ifasinachi Dominic Oguzie, but the latter failed to turn up in court during the trial and was issued with a warrant of arrest.
Prior to sentencing yesterday, Jonas’ lawyers made an application for adjournment of the delivery of decision under Section 425 of the Criminal Procedure Code to recall a witness to give statement.
They said they wanted to recall the female witness, who is a friend of Ifasinachi, to testify again.
Wit said the woman had testified to seeing a disposable diaper similar to the one used to wrap the drugs found in the car, when both accused were arrested.
However, DPP Musli Abdul Hamid said the Jonas never mentioned the woman’s name in his statement and called for the application to be rejected.
In entering his defence, Jonas said Ifasinachi, also known as Bobby, had borrowed a car from him to go to a laundromat before returning and placing the car key in the living room.
Jonas said he later drove the car to a petrol station and then went to the fast-food restaurant where he was arrested by police.