Corpun file 20187

Borneo Bulletin, Bandar Seri Begawan, 6 May 2008

20 years' jail and 15 lashes for Syabu trio

By Rol Ezam

Three Bruneian men were sentenced by the High Court to 20 years' imprisonment and 15 strokes of whipping last weekend after pleading guilty to the possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking.

The defendants, Ak Saiful Azri bin Pg Hj Abas, 26, Hj Abu Samah Effandy bin Hj Mohd Tahir, 30, and Arif Rumaizi bin Hj Hassan, 29, all pleaded guilty to the possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking, an offence under section 3A of the Misuse of Drugs Act.

All three defendants were arrested during a raid on a house in Seria conducted by the NCB officers from the Belait branch led by Chief Narcotics Officer Mohd Jaffari bin Mahadi on March 8, 2006.

According to the Deputy Public Prosecutor Aldila Hj Mohd Salleh a total of 77.327 grammes of Syabu or Methylamphetamine was found by the NCB officers concealed in boxes of biscuits and sugar which the three men admitted were brought in from Miri, Sarawak.

The drugs were then to be delivered from Kuala Belait to Bandar Seri Begawan.

The High Court presided by Judge Dato Paduka Steven Chong in passing sentence said that although the defendants have clear records, very little credit, if any, can be given in cases involving large quantities of drugs.

Siva Sankaran, Mr Mohd Shazale Hj Mohd Salleh and Zamri Hj Mohd Taha represented the three defendants respectively.

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