Indian businessman gets 20 years jail for drug possession

SHAH ALAM: A businessman from India was today sentenced to 20 years' jail after the High Court here found him guilty of an alternative charge of possessing 3.2kg of ketamin three years ago.
Judge Datuk Abdul Halim Aman ordered Kabeer Kather, 55, to serve the jail sentence from the date of his arrest on March 26, 2012.
The charge under Section 12(2) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 carries a maximum jail term of 30 years and whipping upon conviction.
The businessman, however, was lucky as the court spared him from whipping due to age factor.
Kabeer was found to have had the drug in his possession at the Inspection Branch, Low Cost Carrier Terminal Arrival Hall, Sepang, near here on March 26, 2012.
He was initially charged and tried with drug trafficking under Section 39B of the same Act, which carries mandatory death penalty upon conviction.
Throughout the trial, the prosecution called nine witnesses, and the defence, one.
Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Izhanudin Alias appeared for the prosecution, while the accused was represented by lawyer K. A. Ramu. – Bernama