Defence minister's son ordered to enter defence over drug charge

The Kuala Lumpur Magistrate's Court today ordered Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu's son, Ahmad Saiful Islam, to enter his defence over a drug charge.

Magistrate Mohamad Aizat Abdul Rahim made the ruling as the accused stood calmly in the dock in the packed courtroom this morning.

The magistrate said the prosecution succeeded in proving a prima facie case against Ahmad Saiful Islam, who was alleged to have taken the dangerous drug THC last year.

Aizat noted that the testimony from the total six prosecution witnesses in the course of the trial showed there had been no break in the chain of evidence, from the time that the accused was arrested, among others.

“From the testimony of the prosecution witnesses, the court found that there was no break in the chain of evidence presented by the prosecution, (the evidence) has never been mishandled,” the magistrate said.

“Therefore, after having gone through the prosecution witnesses’ testimony and the evidence tendered, the court found that the prosecution has succeeded in proving a prima facie case.

“The accused Ahmad Saiful Islam is ordered to enter his defence.

“You have three choices (in how to conduct defence). Either remain silent, give an unsworn statement outside the witness stand, or give a sworn statement from the witness stand,” Aizat said as the accused looked on from the dock.

Ahmad Saiful Islam and his counsel Nasar Khan were then seen conferring with each other, before the lawyer turned to the magistrate and informed that the accused opted to give a sworn statement from the witness stand.

The court then set Feb 13 for the first day of Ahmad Saiful Islam’s defence stage of his trial.

After proceedings, the accused, who was previously granted bail of RM3,000 with one surety, was then seen leaving the court while in discussion with Nasar.

On June 19 last year, the media reported that Ahmad Saiful Islam was charged six days earlier at the Kuala Lumpur Magistrate's Court with consumption of drugs.

He claimed trial under Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which specified a maximum fine of RM5,000 or to a maximum two-year jail term.

He was accused of committing the offence involving the drug THC at an entertainment centre at Hotel W, Kuala Lumpur, around 2.05am on Jan 5, last year.

On Dec 5 last year, local media reported that today was set for decision at the end of the prosecution's case against Ahmad Saiful Islam.

On April 8 last year, Mohamad Sabu reportedly said he would leave it to the legal process to determine the outcome of his son's drug case. - Mkini