KOTA KINABALU: The High Court here sentenced four of the 15 accused individuals to three years in prison on Tuesday (March 18) for aiding the organised crime syndicate “Geng Upik.”
Mahathir Jibarail, 49; Mohd Faridzul Asmahadi, 32; Mohd Fikri Asme, 29 and Manan Ungok @ Salleh, 52, pleaded guilty before Justice Datuk Dr Lim Hock Leng to an alternative charge of assisting the syndicate from June 2015 to Dec 24, 2023.
The prosecution offered the alternative charge under Section 130W of the Penal Code after their representation letters were accepted. They initially faced a principal charge under Section 130V(1) of the Penal Code for being members of “Geng Upik,” which carries a sentence of five to 20 years upon conviction. The alternative charge carries a maximum prison term of 10 years.
Justice Lim ordered the four to serve their sentences from their respective arrest dates.
According to the prosecution, a police superintendent lodged a report on Nov 23, 2023, based on intelligence that “Geng Upik” was involved in large-scale drug distribution in Sabah.
Mahathir and Faridzul were arrested on Dec 25, 2023, in Tawau and Penampang, while Manan was detained in Semporna on Jan 7, 2024.
Fikri is currently under preventive detention under the Dangerous Drugs (Special Preventive Measures) Act 1985 from Dec 9, 2023, to Dec 8, 2025. He was separately charged under Section 130V of the Penal Code on March 1, 2024, for allegedly being a member of “Geng Upik.”
Investigations revealed that the four had supported the syndicate’s drug distribution operations across Sabah, providing material benefits to further its criminal activities. Further probes established that “Geng Upik” was linked to several major drug-related cases, including three in Tawau and one in Manggatal.
In Tawau, a convicted member of the syndicate was sentenced to 12 years in prison under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952. Authorities also seized 53kg of syabu, with evidence linking the drugs to “Geng Upik.”
Another member of the syndicate, currently on trial at the Tawau High Court, was also charged under the same section. In Manggatal, a separate raid led to the seizure of 4.6kg of syabu, which was also linked to the group.
The prosecution team was led by Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk Nazran Mohd Sham, alongside Lina Hanini Ismail, Siti Hajar Mat Radzi, and Nur Ainaa Ridzwan. Mahathir, Faridzul and Manan were represented by lawyer Shahlan Jufri, while lawyer Mohamed Zairi Zainal Abidin represented Fikri.
The remaining 11 accused—Datuk Maslan Sani, Fazrul Bahar, Nelson Yen Yee Chung, Norsyafilah Pawawoi, Shahlan Shah Abdul Samad, Zulkahar Dusing, Alkan Abraham, Rahman Burijin, Jaisalfian Jaineh @ Zaini, Mohd Fauzie Rablin and Mazlan Mahmud—are still facing trial.
Geng Upik’s activities came under heightened scrutiny following a series of high-profile arrests in December last year. Authorities believe the syndicate laundered money through legitimate businesses, including oil and gas companies and restaurant chains, while also using a non-governmental organisation as a front to protect its illegal activities since 2015.
Following the crackdown, police seized assets linked to the group, including 22 bank accounts containing RM420,000, 18 luxury vehicles worth RM6.6mil, jewellery and watches valued at approximately RM100,000, and RM35,000 in cash.
The operation was carried out by Bukit Aman’s Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department and the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom), with multiple raids conducted in Kota Kinabalu, Tawau and Semporna.
