Fadley Faisal

The High Court yesterday handed a sentence of 20 years’ jail with 15 whippings to a local man for importing not less than 49 grammes of methylamphetamine into the country.

Shah Rony @ Mohammad Zieyad bin Abdul Rahman committed the offence with Mohd Aizamri bin Nasri who was sentenced to 20 years’ jail with 15 whippings after pleading guilty to the same charge.

DPPs Hajah Suriana binti Haji Radin and Aisyah Lakim’s facts of the case stated that the duo arrived by car at the Labu, Temburong control post on the afternoon of October 11, 2014.

An inspection of their car resulted in finding an apparatus with traces of methylamphetamine and packets of the Class A drug. Chief Justice Dato Seri Paduka Steven Chong, sitting with Judge Muhammed Faisal bin Pehin Datu Juragan Laila Diraja Colonel (Rtd) Darp Seri Pahlawan Haji Kefli, considered a starting point of 29 years’ jail with 15 whippings.

The court cited the delay of bringing the case to a conclusion, in which a trial on the case first commenced in 2017 and ended abruptly in January 2018. Shah Rony’s arrest led to his remand up until April 2015 and was released on bail later pending the issuance of the drug analyst certificate relating to the packets of drugs.

His bail was revoked which led to his remand for the second time upon the issuance of the analyst certificate on July 18, 2016.

The court also took into account the first remand of six months to justify a reduction in sentence along with the delay of concluding the case.

A further consideration was taken into account with the defendant’s guilty plea and that his jail time was ordered to be backdated to the date of the commencement of the second remand.

Lawyer Mohd Shazale Salleh represented the defendant in the case.