Kota Kinabalu: A 53-year-old man was on Wednesday sentenced to life imprisonment by the High Court here for trafficking 82.71gm of syabu five years ago.
High Court Judicial Commissioner Datuk Faridz Gohim Abdullah found Mohd Jusnaidi Omar guilty of committing the offence on Nov 27, 2019, at 8.30pm, at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) police station, here.
In delivering his decision, Faridz held that the defence failed to cast reasonable doubt against the prosecution’s case.
Jusnaidi had on Sept 30, 2021, claimed trial to the charge under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the death penalty or imprisonment for life and whipping not less than 15 strokes if not sentenced to death, on conviction.
On Feb 8, this year, Jusnaidi was ordered to enter his defence against the charge.
Jusnaidi has since been held under remand as the charge against him has no provision for bail.
The court ordered him to serve the imprisonment sentence from the date of his arrest.
Junaidi was spared whipping due to his age, which is above 50 years old.
Five prosecution witnesses testified during the prosecution’s stage.
The defence called three witnesses, including Jusnaidi, who gave a sworn statement in his defence.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Afiq Agoes prosecuted while Jusnaidi was represented by counsel Zahir Shah.
Meanwhile, a 52-year-old man was charged in the Magistrate’s Court with molesting a woman two years ago.
Ramdan Abdullah pleaded not guilty before Magistrate Stephanie Sherron Abbie to committing the offence against the 21-year-old woman at an office in the Kota Kinabalu International Airport, in 2022.
The charge under Section 354 of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term of up to 10 years with a fine or with whipping or any two of the said punishment, on conviction.
The court set Aug 21 for pre-trial case management and released the accused on a bail of RM2,500 in two sureties. Inspector Suzie S.K. prosecuted.
