KUCHING: A drug trafficker has been sentenced to 30 years’ imprisonment and 15 strokes of the cane by the High Court after being found guilty of trafficking 527g of methamphetamine two years ago.
Judge Dean Wayne Daly handed down the sentence this morning after ruling that the prosecution had successfully proven its case beyond reasonable doubt at the close of the defence case against Thien Siaw Min, 38.
Under the first charge, Thien was charged under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, punishable under Section 39B(2) of the same Act, for trafficking 527 grammes of methamphetamine.
Upon conviction, the offence carries the death penalty or life imprisonment and, if the death penalty is not imposed, a mandatory minimum of 15 strokes of the cane.
For the second and third charges, he was charged under Section 12(2) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, punishable under Section 12(3) of the same Act, for possession of 4.26 grammes of methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and 104.62 grammes of ketamine.
He committed all three offences in a luxury apartment along Jalan Stutong Baru at about 10.30 am on July 13, 2024.
For the trafficking charge, Thien was sentenced to 30 years’ imprisonment and 15 strokes of the cane. For the second and third charges, he was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment each.
A total of eight prosecution witnesses and two defence witnesses testified during the trial.
The prosecution was conducted by Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohd Fillanny Siji, while the accused was represented by lawyers Gerald Empaling Donald and Steven Beti.
