Corpun file 15515

Borneo Bulletin, Bandar Seri Begawan, 8 April 2005

Anti-Drug Abuse Forum & Exhibition at CHMS

By James Kon

The massive nationwide Anti-Drug Abuse campaign is coordinated by various government agencies, which include the Counselling and Guidance Department of the Ministry of Education, Narcotic Control Bureau, the Royal Brunei Police Force, Prison Department and Attorney General Chamber.

Themed "Remaja Perkasa Bangsa Bermaruah", the forum and exhibition were aimed at promoting awareness on the danger of drug abuse among students.

Mdm Kho, the principal, pointed out that the school plays an important role in creating awareness among students on positive healthy lifestyle and understanding the danger of drug abuse.

To date, there is no record of drug abuse cases in CHMS.

Students who attended the two-and-a-half hour forum also got a rare opportunity to witness how a convicted drug abuser is caned through a demonstration by the representative of the Prison Department. The forum ended with a Q&A session.

Copyright © 2005 Brunei Press Sdn Bhd. All right reserved.

Corpun file 15517

Borneo Bulletin, Bandar Seri Begawan, 13 April 2005

7yrs, 12 strokes for breaking into bank's ATM room

By Malai FadleyRizal and Rol Ezam

A Bangladeshi man was sent to jail for seven years and given 12 strokes of the cane Monday after he was found guilty of committing serious crimes.

Md Moneru Islam bin Md Iskandar Ali broke a glass wall of a bank ATM at Gadong Properties building on June 30, 2002 where the damage amounted to $5,480.

The defendant broke the glass in order to enter the bank's ATM room during the wee hours of that day, according to Deputy Public Prosecutor Hjh Anifa Rafiza.

The offence was carried in the first charge against the defendant.

Meanwhile, the second charge stated that the defendant had committed an attempt of theft. The prosecution told the court that he had forced open drawers located behind the bank counters used to store money after breaking the glass wall the same night.

However, the defendant left the counters empty-handed when he found the drawers empty. He later attempted to escape the scene. The third charge the defendant faced stated that he had voluntarily caused hurt to a security guard using a cutter, which is an "offensive weapon".

Presiding Senior Magistrate Hj Abdullah Soefri heard from the prosecution that when the defendant broke the glass wall earlier, the security guard, alerted by the bank's security system which went off, caught the defendant on his way out.

The defendant took out a cutter and slashed the security personnel injuring his face.

Chased by another security guard, the defendant ran towards Hj Taha building and to a petrol station nearby.

The court further heard that a struggle ensued and the defendant used the same cutter and slashed the second security guard injuring his face and neck.

The fourth charge stated that the defendant had voluntarily caused hurt to the security personnel by using the offensive weapon.

The first security guard managed to assist the second and both caught the defendant and called the police.

The fifth and final charge the defendant faced was having in his possession an offensive weapon in a public place.

Copyright © 2005 Brunei Press Sdn Bhd. All right reserved.