KOTA KINABALU: A shop owner was fined RM2,500, in default 28 days in jail, by the Sessions Court here for two counts of possession of medicines containing poisons and unregistered medicines, four years ago.
Lee Teck Loong, 47, pleaded guilty to both charges before judge Noor Hafizah Mohd Salim.
On the first count, the accused was fined RM1,500, in default 14 days' jail, for possessing 33 types of medicines that contained various types of poisons, among others, Ibuprofen 400mg, Pontalon, Copastin, Dymenate 50mg, Royce (Ibuprofen) 200mg and Noriday at Kedai Ubat Ria, Wisma Telipok Ria in Telipok, Tuaran on Nov 7, 2017.
The accused was convicted under Section 9(3) of the Poisons Act 1952 punishable under Section 32(2) of the same act which provides for a fine of not more than RM3,000 or a jail term of up to one year or both.
On the second count, the accused received another RM1,000, in default 14 days' imprisonment, for possessing two types of unregistered medicines namely Dhasolone and Candy B+ Complex, at the same time and place.
The offence was under Section 30(1)of the Drugs and Cosmetics Control Regulations 1984, punishable under Section 12(1) of the Drugs Sales Act 1952, which carries a fine or a jail term of up to three years or both, upon conviction.
In pleading for leniency, the accused who was unrepresented informed the court that he was not aware that the medicines contained poisons and were unregistered.
However, Pharmacy Department prosecuting officer Lim Lay Peng urged for an appropriate sentence saying that the confiscated medicines would be dangerous if taken without proper dosage as buyers can be exposed to the dangers of toxicity and the side effects of the poisons.
She said the accused in this case has no license and knowledge about the medicines.
In another Sessions Court, a foreigner who was charged with committing a sexual offence against a minor will have his case mentioned for case management on Sept 6.
Judge Azreena Aziz set the date for Selamat Asing, 40, when his case came up for handing over of documents to be used for his trial.
Selamat was accused of touching and inserting his finger into a 7-year-old girl's private parts at a swing at an unnumbered house in Sipitang at 11am between April 1 and Aug 18 last year.
The alleged offence was under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, carries a jail term of up to 20 years and whipping, upon conviction.
Selamat claimed trial to the charge on Dec 15 of the same year and was denied bail. In the meantime, he will be further detained pending disposal of the case.
During the previous hearing, it was reported that the prosecution will be calling eight witnesses to testify against the accused.