SIBU: A local woman has been sentenced by the Sessions Court to five years imprisonment for consuming a dangerous drug.
Magdalina Suri, 30, pleaded guilty as charged before Sessions Court judge Marutin Pagan on Tuesday (Oct 12).
She was charged with consuming amphetamine and methamphetamine at Sungai Merah Police Station, Jalan Wawasan at about 12.55pm on Aug 19.
The offence is framed under Section 15(1)(a) of Dangerous Drug Act 1952 (Act 234) and since she has no less than two previous convictions under the same offence, she would then be punishable under Section 39C(1) of the same Act upon conviction.
Under th Act, the punishment provides for an imprisonment term of not less than five years but not exceeding seven years and also liable to whipping of not more than three strokes.
Judge Marutin accepted the accused’s plea of guilty and convicted her accordingly.
In passing sentence, he took into consideration the facts of the case, her guilty plea, plea in mitigation and public interest.
He also ordered the accused be placed under police supervision for three years upon her release.
The accused is to report herself to the nearest police station (Sibujaya Police Station – preferred by the accused as it is the nearest to her) on the first week, once every three months.
According to the facts of the case, at about 12.55pm on Aug 19, Insp Muhammad Noor Hisham with his team members from Narcotics Crime Investigation Department, Sibu District Police Headquarters arrested a woman at the Sungai Merah Police Station, on suspicion of being involved in drug abuse activities.
An initial test on her urine found it positive for drug use.
The urine specimen was then sent to Pathology Department, Sarawak General Hospital for analysis.
The Pathology Department revealed that the urine specimen was found to contain amphetamine and methamphetamine.
These drugs are listed in the First Schedule of Dangerous Drug Act 1952. Hence, the accused had committed an offence under Section 15(1)(a) of Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 (Act 234).
Based on the registry of criminals, the accused had three previous similar convictions.
