Borneo Bulletin, Bandar Seri Begawan, 7 March 2003

Justice meted out to car thieves

By Rol Ezam

Magistrate Lailatul Zubaidah sentenced a 22-year-old local man to one year imprisonment and two strokes of the cane, yesterday. At the same time, she also passed a sentence of 8 months imprisonment and two strokes of the cane on a 17-year-old Malaysian, while a sentence of two months jail was imposed on a 16-year-old boy. A 15-year-old boy was also sentenced to 6 months jail and two strokes of the cane.

According to the AG Chambers Prosecuting Officer Norhafizah Ahmad, the 22-year-old local man Mohammad Danney Suhaidey, who pleaded guilty earlier to six charges, was sentenced to 6 months imprisonment for each charge, however it was made concurrent to the five charges of car theft but consecutive to a mischief charge with the two strokes.

Meanwhile the 17-year-old Malaysian who pleaded guilty to five charges, four for car theft and one mischief charge, was sentenced to 3 months imprisonment for each charge.

However, the Magistrate ordered for the four car theft charges to run concurrently but consecutive to the mischief charge, with the two strokes.

The Magistrate additionally fined the Malaysian boy $1,500 or 2 months in jail for remaining unlawfully in the country. However, he failed to pay the fine and an order for the sentences to run consecutively was passed.

In the case of the 16-year-old boy, he was sentenced to two months in jail for being the accomplice of Mohammad Danney who committed theft of a Mazda Station Wagon.

The 15-year-old local boy was sentenced to nine months imprisonment for two car theft charges and one mischief charge, which he pleaded guilty to. However, Magistrate Lailatul ordered for the two sentences of car theft charges to run concurrently but consecutive to the mischief charge with the two strokes.

Mohammad Daney's will again appear in court after he pleaded not guilty to one of the car theft charges, which he allegedly committed with the 17- and 15-year-old boy.

Due to that plea, the prosecution will be calling in about 6 witnesses for the trial set for April 3 and 5.

Borneo Bulletin, Bandar Seri Begawan, 21 March 2003

Multiple drug offender gets a break

By Rol Ezam and Malai Fadley Rizal

A 30-year-old local man who has a bad record of drug convictions was fortunate when Judge Dato Paduka Steven Chong ordered his 13 year imprisonment and 11 stroke sentence to run concurrently with a 20 years jail and 15 stroke sentence, which he is currently serving for a preceding conviction.

Suhaili Hj Saidin pleaded guilty to being in possession of 12.1893 grammes of Methylamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking, possession of another 27.3346 grammes of Methylamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking, consumption of Methylamphetamine and in possession of apparatus intended for the consumption of a controlled drug.

He also pleaded guilty to possessing a rifle without a license contrary to rule 2 of the Arms and Explosive Rules.

Judge Chong sentenced him to 8 years imprisonment and 8 strokes for both counts of being in possession of Methylamphetamine, 3 years jail for consuming the said drug, 3 months imprisonment for being in possession of the apparatus and 5 years imprisonment and 3 strokes for the rifle charge.

Regarding the two charges of being in possession of Methylamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking, Defence Counsel Hj Zul-Sukarla submitted that his client should be considered a first offender.

The defendant had previously been sentenced, in two separate cases involving offences under section 3A of the MDA, to 20 years imprisonment and 15 strokes and 5 years jail and 5 strokes where the prison term is to run concurrently but the whipping to be inflicted cumulatively.

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