Corpun file 8714 at www.corpun.com
Borneo Bulletin, Bandar Seri Begawan, 1 March 2002
Noose tightens on drug runners
By Liza Mohamad
In a further attempt to curb the scourge of drug menace, Brunei has intensified the deterrent with stiffer penalties against offenders.
Foremost among these is the imposition of death penalty to anyone caught trafficking or smuggling more than 50 grammes of methylamphetamine, locally known as Syabu.
Effective February 2002, His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam has consented to amend the laws against drug offences.
Before the amendment, the law stated that if anyone was caught trafficking or smuggling more than 200 grammes of Syabu he/she will face death penalty.
But in order to protect the country from drugs, His Majesty has pronounced that anyone caught trafficking or smuggling more than 50 grammes of Syabu now will face the gallows.
That is a massive 150 grammes drop from the previous provision of law under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
Fifty grammes of Syabu used to be the minimum quantity for any trafficker or smuggler to earn a minimum sentence of 20 years in jail and 15 strokes of the rattan.
However, His Majesty has pronounced that 20 grammes of Syabu would now be the minimum quantity enough to call for a minimum jail sentence of 20 years and 15 strokes of the rattan.
Before, trafficking less than 50 grammes of Syabu called for a minimum sentence of 5 years in jail and 5 strokes of the rattan.
Observing drug traffickers who have been brought to court over these years, the quantity of 20 to 50 grammes looks a routine affair.
Anyone who is caught possessing more than 100 grammes of Syabu for the purpose of trafficking would be sent to the gallows, the new law provided.
That is a 150 grammes drop from the previous provision of law that stated anyone caught possessing more than 250 grammes faced death penalty.
The recent case would be when the High Court imposed a minimum sentence of 20 years in jail and 15 strokes of the rattan on two security guards who were caught delivering more than 100 grammes of Syabu for the purpose of trafficking. If they were to face the charges now, the High Court would have no choice but to impose a death sentence against them.
There has also been a 50-gramme reduction for the court to impose a minimum sentence of 20 years in jail and 15 strokes of the rattan against anyone caught possessing a minimum amount of 40 grammes of Syabu for the purpose of trafficking. The sentence of the mentioned offence used to carry a minimum jail term of 5 years and 5 strokes of the rattan.
Its is hoped the strict amendments, which took effect from February 2 this year, would deter the public from committing drug activities.
The Narcotics Control Bureau has informed the public many times regarding the risk of drug abuses and threat it poses to the peace of the country.
The NCB has advised the public to cooperate with the government in helping them to provide information straight to them relating to drug activities in Brunei.
Copyright 2002 Brunei Press Sdn Bhd. All right reserved.
Corpun file 9222 at www.corpun.com
Brunei Direct, BSB, 1 March 2002
Loaded Local Gets Eight Years, Caning For Drugs
Bandar Seri Begawan - Local Awgku Kamal bin Pg Hj Beswani, 27, got a stiff sentence of more than eight years after being convicted for offences under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
Local Awgku Kamal was sentenced to five years imprisonment and five strokes of the cane for possessing 2.8184 grams of methylamphetamine (syabu) for the purpose of distribution. Another three-and-a-half years were added to his sentence for consuming the drug.
The Narcotic Control Bureau caught him on the February 1, 2000 in kampong Delima Satu in Jalan Muara.
Meanwhile, a foreign offender Sumet Pong Phit Sano, 32, also received five years imprisonment for possessing 2.5332 grams of methylamphetamine for the purpose of distribution.
The Royal Brunei Police Force caught him along with six other people on November 20 last year in Kampong Tagap in the Selayun area.
Corpun file 9225 at www.corpun.com
Brunei Direct, BSB, 21 March 2002
Drug Trafficker Gets Go Signal For 20-year Jail Term
By Liza Mohamad
Bandar Seri Begawan - Local man, Suhaili bin Hj Saidin, 30, will spend most of his adult life in jail to pay for his heavy crime of possessing 195.9983 grams of methylamphetamine or syabu for trafficking.
Suhaili, who pleaded guilty in the High Court, was yesterday sentenced to 20 years and one month in jail plus 15 strokes of the rattan.
He had also pleaded guilty to another charge of refusing to give his urine sample to the Narcotics Control Bureau officer and a fine of $1,000 or a month in jail in default.
The High Court also ordered that a cash of $5,411.3 and electrical equipments such as television, Close Circuit TV, two mobile phones and a motorcycle from the proceeds of the drugs be forfeited to the state.
Suhaili was arrested on April 20 last year in Kg Berangan, Bandar Seri Begawan, the court heard.
