SHAH ALAM: A former student wept as he pleaded for leniency from a judge after being convicted of trafficking 4,292.3 grammes of methamphetamine at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) four years ago.
"I am sorry for my actions and I vow not to repeat it," cried Bretley Letu anak Micheal Gambit, 23.
High Court judge Datuk Seri Latifah Mohd Tahar sentenced him to 30 years in jail and 12 strokes of the rotan.
She ruled that Bretley, who had studied heavy machinery maintenance course at the National Youth Skills Institute in Miri, Sarawak, failed to raise a reasonable doubt at the end of defence's case.
"Bretley's defence were bare denial and failed to break the prosecution's case.
"The court found that the accused was used to being at the KLIA and clearly, he had something to do with the bag (containing drugs).
"It is also taking into account the large amount of drugs. It was certainly not for personal use. The accused clearly wanted to bring the drugs to Miri, Sarawak," she said.
After the decision was delivered, Bretley cried and was embraced by his family members.
Earlier, deputy public prosecutor Mohammed Heikal Ismail asked the accused to be sentenced to death by hanging, emphasising the gravity of a drug trafficking offence.
"The court does not need to sympathise with the mitigation of the defence. The accused has already been found guilty in this case.
"This will serve as a serious warning to society in our fight against drugs, which is the country's number one threat," he said.
However, defence lawyer Nik Muammer Hurrie Mohamad Sukri pleaded for a lighter sentence.
"At that time, he was a young offender aged 19. He does not have prior conviction and he had been under remand for over four years.
"He is remorseful.In prison, he re-took the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination to improve himself," he said.
Bretley was charged with trafficking the drugs at the airport's district narcotics crime division at 5pm on July 22, 2020.
The charge under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act punishable under Section 39B(2) provides a sentence of death by hanging if found guilty.
If the death penalty is not imposed, it carries a jail term not less than 30 years and not exceeding 40 years; and no less than 12 lashes upon conviction.
Seven prosecution witnesses and two defence witnesses testified in the trial.