SIBU: A 32-year-old unemployed man has been sentenced to life imprisonment after the High Court found him guilty of drug trafficking and possession.
Justice Wong Siong Tung sentenced Wong Lee Ming, to life imprisonment—equivalent to 30 years—for trafficking 69.82g of methamphetamine.
The sentence is to be served from the date of his arrest on Feb 16, 2023.
In addition, he was ordered to receive a minimum of 12 strokes of the cane.
For the second charge, which was amended, Lee Ming was convicted of possessing 21.83g of methamphetamine.
He was sentenced to three years and six months in prison, also beginning on Feb 16, 2023, and ordered to receive three strokes of the cane.
Justice Wong ruled on Friday (March 7) that both sentences would run concurrently.
Deputy public prosecutor Mark Netto pushed for a deterrent sentence, describing the accused as a hardened criminal with a history of drug-related convictions.
According to the case facts, Lee Ming was found in possession of methamphetamine at about 7.10pm on Feb 16, 2023, in the master bedroom of a house in Lorong Ek Dee 16.
As a result, he was charged under Section 39B(1)(A) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and sentenced under Subsection 39B(2) of the same Act for drug trafficking.
The section carries a penalty of either the death sentence or life imprisonment, along with a minimum of 15 strokes of the cane, upon conviction.
For the second charge, punishable under Section 39A(1) of the same Act, a total of 21.83g of methamphetamine was discovered in the living room of the house on the same day.
The drugs were intended for the accused’s personal use.
Under this section, possession carries a prison term of no less than two years and no more than five years, along with a minimum of three and a maximum of nine strokes of the cane.
The accused was represented by Daren Ling.
