KLANG: A laboratory assistant who was previously charged with killing a motorcyclist in a road crash changed his plea to not guilty on one drug-related charge in the Magistrate's Court here on Wednesday (June 3).
R. Saktygaanapathy, 28, changed his plea after the amended charge was read out again before magistrate Nor Azilah Mat.
According to the amended charge, he allegedly administered tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) into his own body at the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Division office, South Klang District Police Headquarters (IPD) at 3.30pm on March 29, 2026.
On April 1, he pleaded guilty to a charge of administering to himself the drugs benzo and THC at the same time and location.
The charge under Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 provides for a maximum fine of RM5,000 or imprisonment of up to two years, as well as supervision for no more than three years, if convicted.
His lawyer Aravind Raj told reporters outside the court that his client did not understand the implications and consequences of the guilty plea made previously because he was not represented by a lawyer when he was brought to court two months ago.
Nor Azilah set July 22 for case mention to obtain the chemical report.
Meanwhile, in another court, magistrate A. Karthiyayini also set July 22 for the mention of the murder case involving Saktygaanapathy to allow the prosecution to complete the post-mortem report.
Saktygaanapathy is charged with the murder of delivery rider Amirul Hafiz Omar, 33, on Jalan Raya Barat here at 11.47 am on March 29 while allegedly driving under the influence of drugs.
The charge is under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries the death penalty or imprisonment of between 30 and 40 years and, if not sentenced to death, may be subject to a minimum of 12 strokes of the cane, if convicted.
However, no plea was recorded from the accused regarding the murder case as it falls under the jurisdiction of the High Court.
Meanwhile, the lawyer representing the victim's family, Mohd Faizi Che Abu, said they will file a claim for compensation exceeding RM1mil against the individual who caused Amirul Hafiz's death, no later than next month.
According to him, they are completing related documents, including assessing the victim's actual income to determine the appropriate amount of the claim. - Bernama
