The High Court yesterday dismissed a repeat drug offender’s application for sentence reduction, on grounds that his imprisonment would cause hardship to his family.
“Sadly, it is often the case that the imprisonment of an offender will cause hardship to his family… however…(it) cannot be one of the factors which can affect what would otherwise be the right sentence for the crime,” Chief Justice Dato Seri Paduka Steven Chong said.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Qamarul Affyian bin Abdul Rahman on responding to the application revealed that Zailin bin Haji Jimbol pleaded guilty to possessing 32.52 grammes (g) of methylamphetamine for trafficking, consuming the same drug and possession of another 28.75g of the same Class ‘A’ drug.
Magistrate Syaffina binti Shahif on June 1, handed a sentence of seven years’ jail with five whippings. The Chief Justice, after examining the case circumstances, found the Magistrate’s sentences to be on the lenient side, paired with the fact that Zailin has three previous drug consumption convictions. – Fadley Faisal
