S'gor teacher's drug trafficking charge reduced
Published on: Saturday, March 14, 2015
Kota Kinabalu: A Malay private teacher side-stepped a possible capital punishment when her drug trafficking charge was reduced to mere possession.High Court Judge Chew Soo Ho held on Friday that the prosecution had failed to prove a prima facie case against Suhailah Abdullah, 40, on the charge of trafficking 959.5gm of syabu.However, the court found that Suhailah was in custody of the bag or in control of it, which contained the said drugs.
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"I hold that the prosecution has proven a prima facie case against Suhailah on the possession of the drugs," ruled Chew.He amended the main charge and reduced it to Section 12(2) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and punishable under Section 39A(2)(r) of the same Act.Suhailah of Selangor claimed trial to the reduced charge which carries imprisonment for life or not less than five years and liability of whipping of not less than 10 strokes.The court set March 16 for Suhailah's defence on the amended charge.
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Suhailah was originally charged with trafficking the drugs at 11.15am on May 27, 2013 at the International Arrival Hall, Terminal Two of the Kota Kinabalu International Airport here.The offence under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 carries the death sentence on conviction.
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The prosecution had called 14 witnesses to testify at the prosecution stage for the trafficking charge.Suhailah was represented by counsel Dato Seri Rakhbir Singh.Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) NArtiah F. Mirchelle S Ambatan stood in for Customs DPP Nasir Amir Johari.Meanwhile, in the Magistrate's Court, a jobless Bajau man was sentenced to three months' jail for having a dangerous weapon in public.Abdul Suhim Mudama admitted before Magistrate Cindy Mc Juce Balitus to having the seven inch long knife at 10pm on Jan 23 in Kg Air.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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