KOTA KINABALU: A young man was sentenced to imprisonment for life with seven strokes of the rotan by the Sessions Court here for having and planting a cannabis tree.
Judge Elsie Primus meted out the sentence on Nicklen Jaccqres, 28, after holding that the prosecution had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Nicklen was found guilty of having and planting 44.7cm cannabis tree that weighed 6.38g in a room of a house in Kg Bahang, Jalan Hungab, Penampang, on Aug 19, 2020 at 2.40pm.
He was convicted under Section 6B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and punishable under Section 6B(3) of the same Act which provides for a life imprisonment, and whipping not less than six strokes, on conviction.
The prosecution had called six witnesses while the accused was the sole defence witness during the trial.
Nicklen was ordered to serve his sentence from the date of arrest on Aug 19, 2020.
Counsel PJ Perira represented Nicklen while deputy public prosecutor Tham Pou Jin prosecuted the case.
Meanwhile, a man charged with disposing of a stolen vehicle was freed by the Papar Magistrate's Court.
Roslan Jamal, 59, was discharged and acquitted by magistrate Abdurrahman Abrar Jarni without his defence being called.
The court held that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against the accused. The prosecution called seven witnesses to testify against the accused.
Roslan was accused of committing the offence with an accomplice by selling a vehicle belonging to a man to another person on Aug 1, 2020 at 12pm at Keningau Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) car park.
Roslan was represented by counsel Chen Wen Jye and Ram Singh while Inspector Yusdi Basri prosecuted.