KUCHING: A local man was fined RM6,000 in default six months in jail by the Sessions Court here today (May 23) for possessing three bottles of ketum water in November last year.
Nazri Mohamad Salleh, 35, pleaded guilty to the charge read before Judge Iris Awen Jon.
According to the charge, he was accused of possessing the psychotropic substance mitragynine at a house in Kampung Segedup around 9.30 pm on November 14, 2023.
He was charged under Section 30(3) of the Poisons Act 1952 and can be punished under Section 30(5) of the same Act.
If found guilty, he could be fined up to RM100,000 or imprisoned for up to five years, or both, upon conviction.
According to the facts of the case, a police team raided a house in Kampung Segedup and arrested a man suspected of drug possession.
During the inspection, police found three 1.5-litre bottles containing a brown liquid believed to be ketum water.
The bottles were stored in a red refrigerator in the house. Further investigation by the Malaysia Chemistry Department confirmed that the liquid contained mitragynine.
The case was prosecuted by Deputy Public Prosecutor Ruvinasini Pandian, while the accused was not represented by a counsel.
