KUCHING: A repeat drug offender was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment and one stroke of the rotan by the Sessions Court here today (July 15) for self-administering dangerous drugs despite having three previous convictions for the same offence.
Judge Iris Awen Jon handed down the sentence on Alexander Maxwell Buma Amoi, 24, after he pleaded guilty to the charge under Section 39C(1)(b) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
He committed the offence despite having three previous convictions under Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 in Magistrates’ Court cases, all recorded on Sept 5, 2024.
The offence under Section 39C(1)(b) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 carries a mandatory imprisonment term of between five and seven years, as well as whipping.
The court ordered the prison sentence to commence from the date of his remand on Nov 13, 2025.
In addition, the court ordered Alexander to undergo two years of police supervision upon completing his prison sentence pursuant to Section 38B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
According to the charge, Alexander tested positive for amphetamine and methamphetamine at the Kuching District Police Narcotics Crime Investigation Department office at about 7.05pm on Jan 8, 2025.
The facts of the case revealed that a police team arrested the accused before escorting him to undergo a urine screening test.
An initial screening returned positive results for amphetamine and methamphetamine.
The urine sample was subsequently sent to the Drug and Research Laboratory of the Department of Pathology at Sarawak General Hospital, where analysis confirmed the presence of both drugs, which are listed under the First Schedule of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
During mitigation, Alexander pleaded for leniency and requested that his sentence be backdated to the date of his arrest.
He also asked to serve his sentence at Sri Aman Prison as it is closer to his family.
However, prosecution urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence, highlighting that the accused had three drug-related cases committed within a relatively short period.
Responding to the accused’s request to be placed at Sri Aman Prison, Judge Iris said prison placement falls under the administration of the Prisons Department and that the accused may submit an application to the relevant authorities.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Chuah Kai Sheng appeared for the prosecution, while the accused was unrepresented.
