Middle-aged man fined RM10,000 for possessing ketum water

KUCHING: A 53-year-old man was fined RM10,000, in default six months’ imprisonment, by the Sessions Court here today for possessing 1.5 litres of ketum water containing mitragynine.

Judge Musli Ab Hamid imposed the fine on Haresa Jambell after he pleaded guilty to possessing the liquid, an offence under Section 30(3) of the Poisons Act 1952.

The sections provide a fine up to RM100,000 or imprisonment up to five years or both.

The offence took place at about 11:40 pm on June 10 this year at an unnumbered house in Kampung Siniwan, Jalan Ensengei, Serian.

The court was told that a team of police officers from the Serian District Police Headquarters’ Narcotics Criminal Investigation Division raided the house while investigating suspected drug abuse activities.

During the inspection, the accused directed the police team to the kitchen, where he handed over a plastic bottle labelled ‘R1 Air Minuman’ containing approximately 1,500 millilitres of cloudy green liquid suspected to be ketum water.

The bottle was seized as evidence, and the accused was arrested for further investigation.

The liquid was subsequently sent to the Chemistry Department in Kuching for analysis on June 12, which confirmed the presence of mitragynine, a substance listed under the Poisons Act 1952.

Deputy Public Prosecutor, Chuah Kai Sheng prosecuted the case, while Haresa was unrepresented.