Wednesday January 12, 2011
Repeat offender gets five years for drugs
SHAH ALAM: A repeat offender with six prior convictions landed in jailed again. The High Court sentenced him to five years imprisonment for drugs possession.
Judge Justice Mohtarudin Baki meted out the sentence after Omar Abu Bakar, 58, who is unemployed, pleaded guilty to an alternative charge of possessing 21 plastic packets containing 1.63g of heroin and monoacetylmorphine.
He committed the offence at a house in Taman Keramat, Hulu Langat on Sept 4, last year.
Omar was originally charged under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 with trafficking drugs, which carries the death sentence upon conviction.
Omar, who was unrepresented, asked for a lighter sentence, saying he would not commit the offence again.
However, deputy public prosecutor Muhamad Yasser Mohd Nasir pointed out that Omar had six prior convictions for drugs possession from 1975 to 2005, proving he was unrepentant.
He requested a heavy sentence. In his judgment, Mohtarudin said the accused was fortunate to have been charged under the alternative charge.
“You asked for a light sentence, but looking at your records, it proves that you are a hardcore criminal who never learns,” he said.
“I have no choice but to pass the maximum sentence of five years jail.”
He ordered the sentence to run from the date of arrest.
