NGO staff fined RM4,000 for possessing cannabis
KANGAR: A magistrates' court here today fined a healthcare worker from a non-governmental organisation RM4,000 after he pleaded guilty to an amended charge of possessing cannabis in Padang Besar four months ago.
The accused, Nur Aizat Haziq Mohd Zulkafli, 31, from Johor, entered his plea when the amended charge was read before magistrate Nurshahida Abdul Rahim.
According to the charge, Nur Aizat was found in possession of 10.8g of cannabis while passing through the Special Passenger Inspection Unit (UKPP) at the Padang Besar Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security Complex on Dec 2 last year.
The charge was brought under Section 6 of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries a penalty of up to RM20,000 or imprisonment for up to five years, or both, upon conviction.
The case was prosecuted by Nurul Idayu Ismail and Suriati Yahaya, prosecuting officers from the Perlis Customs Department, while Najdah Muhamad Romli from the National Legal Aid Foundation represented the accused.
Suriati urged the court to hand down an appropriate sentence, stressing the seriousness of attempting to bring dangerous drugs into the country.
However, Najdah appealed for leniency, saying that this was the accused's first offence and that he had no prior criminal record.
The court subsequently imposed a RM4,000 fine, which was paid by the accused.
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