Bernama reported that Justice Wong Siong Tung meted out the sentence to Wong Kieng Li after finding the prosecution had proven the drug trafficking charge under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 beyond a reasonable doubt.
The court, however, declined to impose the death penalty and ordered that Kieng Li’s imprisonment begin on the date of his arrest on Dec 12, 2023.
Kieng Li committed the offence in a car along Jalan Oya at about 5pm on Dec 12, 2023.
The court heard that he collected a parcel containing drugs from a cargo counter at the Sibu bus terminal before placing it in his vehicle. In his defence, Kieng Li testified he was only helping a friend known as “Bai Mau” retrieve a package he believed contained LED lights.
In rejecting his explanation, the court noted that he failed to provide meaningful details about the alleged friend or produce witnesses to support the claim.
The judge also pointed to inconsistencies in the testimony, including giving an incorrect identity card number and a false phone number when collecting the parcel.
Earlier during mitigation, defence counsel Daren Ling said Kieng Li, who is married with two children aged 12 and nine, was his family’s sole breadwinner before his arrest.
He said Kieng Li had cooperated with police throughout the investigation and urged the court not to impose the death penalty.
Deputy public prosecutor Mark Kenneth Netto argued that the large quantity of drugs involved and Kieng Li’s active role in transporting them warranted a severe sentence. - FMT
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