SIBU: A youth was sentenced on Tuesday (July 15) to five years’ imprisonment and one stroke of the cane by the Sessions Court for repeated drug abuse offences.
Sessions Court Judge Musyiri Peet convicted Saddam Logo, 22, from Kapit after he pleaded guilty to the charge, which was read and explained to him through an interpreter.
He understood the charge and the consequences of maintaining his plea of guilt.
Judge Musyiri also ordered Saddam to undergo police supervision for two years upon his release.
The accused was found to have consumed amphetamine and methampheramine without lawful purpose at Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department office, Kapit District Police Headquarters, on Feb 3 at about 1.40pm.
The charge also stated that Saddam had two prior convictions for similar offences, making him liable under Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, read together with Section 39C(1) of the same Act.
He was thus punishable under Section 39C(1), which carries a minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of seven years in prison, as well as whipping.
According to the case facts, a police team led by Insp Suhaimi Rahman arrested Saddam on Feb 3 for suspected drug abuse.
A urine sample taken from the accused was sent to the Pathology Department at Sarawak General Hospital in Kuching for analysis.
The pathology report confirmed that the sample contained the aforementioned drugs, which are listed under the First Schedule of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
The prosecution also confirmed that Saddam had two previous convictions for similar drug offences.
Deputy public prosecutor Mark Kenneth Netto prosecuted the case. The accused was unrepresented.
