Young woman gets 12 years for carrying drugs

TAWAU: A 20-year-old local woman learned a bitter lesson which landed her behind bars for the next 12 years.
The punishment was meted out by Tawau High Court judge Azhahari Kamal Ramli.
Norshafilah Pawawoi's counsel Abdul Gani Zelika in mitigation at her conviction told the court, "She was just an innocent carrier with a faithful intention to help her friend bring the bag back to Tawau and give it to her friend's family.
"The Accused has spent about 19 months in custody of the Prison Department while awaiting trial since the day she was arrested and this has taught her a good lesson, besides she is extremely regretful of her act and the shame done to the good name of her family."
Counsel further said his client gave full cooperation to the police and disclosed all information on the case, which led to the arrest and restriction order of two men under the Dangerous Drugs (Special Preventive Measures) Act 1985.
The online cosmetics entrepreneur who also worked at a salon was initially charged with trafficking in 1335.4g of Methamphetamine at Tawau Airport police station around 11.15am on July 28, 2016. The drugs were found in a black suitcase she was carrying upon arriving in Tawau from Kuala Lumpur.
She pleaded not guilty to the charge under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act (DDA) 1952 punishable under Section 39B(2) of the same Act which carries the mandatory death sentence on conviction
However during the trial, the prosecution called four witnesses and amended the charge to drug possession under Section 12(2) of the DDA, punishable under Section 39A(2) of the same Act, which provides for not less than five years and up to 30 years imprisonment on conviction.
Deputy public prosecutor Khairunnizam Muhamad Ideris represented the prosecution in the case. — Bernama