Kota Kinabalu: A 42-year-old Filipino was sentenced to eight years in prison and ordered given 10 strokes of the cane for having 34.4gm of syabu.
Clifford Arfa pleaded guilty before Sessions Court Judge Noor Hafizah Mohd Salim to the charge against him on Monday.
He was found in possession of the drug at 3.15pm on Dec 9, 2024 by the roadside in Kg Delima, Jalan Sulaman, here.
The offence under Section 12(2) of the Dangerous Drugs Act (DDA) and punishable under Section 39A(2) of the DDA carries a jail term of between five years and life imprisonment and whipping of at least 10 strokes, on conviction.
The court ordered Clifford to serve the jail sentence from the date of his arrest on Dec 9, 2024 and referred to the Immigration Department after completing his jail term for further action as he did not have any identity document.
In mitigation, Clifford who was not represented, asked for leniency saying that he has family in his hometown to look after.
However, Deputy Public Prosecutor Eugenie M. Gilbert urged the court to impose an adequate sentence considering public interest and that the sentence must not only be a lesson to Clifford but not repeat the offence in future and also act as a deterrent to the public at large.
Eugenie also submitted that the adequate sentence was also enlightened to combat the drug activity in society.
The court heard that Clifford was arrested by the police who was on duty at the said place when he was in a suspicious manner.
When the police detained him, the drug was found on him.
