KUALA LUMPUR: The son of former Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu or better known as Mat Sabu has been sentenced to eight months' jail after being found guilty by the magistrate's court today for drug abuse.
Ahmad Saiful Islam Mohamad, 32, who was dressed in a black suit stood calmly in the dock while magistrate Mohamad Aizat Abdul Rahim passed down the sentence.
The magistrate also ordered for the accused to be put under the surveillance of the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) and police for two years after completing his jail time.
In convicting the accused, Mohamad Aizat said the defence has failed to raise a reasonable doubt in the prosecution's case against the accused.
He said Ahmad Saiful's case was a defence consisting bare denials, an afterthought and was unreliable.
"There were contradicting testimonies by the defence witnesses and I agree with the prosecution that the defence was an afterthought.
"After making maximum evaluation, the court finds that the prosecution has succeeded in proving the case beyond reasonable doubt," he said in his decision at the end of the defence case.
The court ordered for Ahmad Saiful to serve his jail sentence from today.
However, the court allowed an application for a stay of the execution by the accused's counsel Datuk Nicholas Kow pending an appeal against the decision.
Ahmad Saiful was today convicted for administering a THC drug (marijuana) at an entertainment centre at a hotel, here, at about 2.05am on Jan 5, 2019.
Earlier, in mitigation, Kow who represented the accused said a jail sentence was not suitable as his client, a father of three was a sole breadwinner.
He said it will be difficult for the accused to find a job and his family members' livelihood would be affected if he was being put in jail.
Kow also asked the court to consider that Ahmad Saiful has no previous criminal record.
"This is his (accused) first offence and he has been cooperative throughout the case.
"We ask for the court to impose a fine or a bond (for first offenders) instead of jail time," he added.
Meanwhile, deputy public prosecutor Nur Fatin Mohamad Farid urged for deterrence citing the fact that drug cases has been on the rise.
She also asked for the court to consider that the accused did not plead guilty from the beginning which is a waste of the court's time and costs.
"I urge for the court to impose a sentence that will not only serve as a lesson to the accused but also to the public," she said.
A total of six prosecution witnesses and two defence witnesses including the accused were called to the stand to testify in the trial which started on Oct 15, last year.
Lawyers Emile Ezra Hussain and Nasar Khan also represented the accused.
Ahmad Saiful was hauled to the magistrate's court to face the charge on June 13, last year and was ordered to enter his defence on Jan 3.
His charged under Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 carries a fine of up to RM5,000 or imprisonment of up to two years, or both, if found guilty.
It was reported that the third child of the former Defence Minister was arrested after testing positive for marijuana following an Ops Pusat Hiburan Bersepadu raid at midnight on Jan 5, 2019.