Pubdate: Thu, 20 Jan 2005
Source: Daily Express (Malaysia)
Copyright: 2005 Daily Express
Contact: http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/feedback_form.cfm
Website: http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3635

ADDICTS GO STRAIGHT TO JAIL

Kota Kinabalu: Police will invoke a new legal provision to charge repeat 
addicts in court in future instead of sending them to rehabilitation 
centres, Sabah Police Commissioner, Dato Mangsor Ismail said Wednesday.

He said for the repeat addicts, police would invoke the new provision, 
namely Section 3 of the Dangerous Drugs Act (DDA).

"Previously, we arrest and send them to rehabilitation centres, but now 
with the availability of Section 3, we can arrest and take them to court.

"The court can impose appropriate punishment and they need not be sent to 
rehabilitation centres," he said.

Speaking after handing over new police vehicles at Karamunsing here, 
Mangsor said rehabilitation centres in Sabah could only accommodate 400 
addicts at a time, while a high number of 1,700 addicts have been registered.

This means those addicts who do not enter the centres will be loitering in 
the streets.

Sabah police would also launch another narcotics operation, to be 
incorporated with crime prevention, to reduce drug supply and demand in the 
State.

Several target areas have been identified, including Kota Kinabalu, Tawau, 
Lahad Datu and Penampang. Mangsor said police wished to detect drug 
traffickers and charge them under Section 39B of the DDA if there is evidence.

"If there is incriminating evidence, we will take action under the special 
preventive measures, which include banishing them under Restricted 
Residence," he said.

Earlier, in his speech, Mangsor revealed that Syabu still accounted for the 
most drugs seized last year, weighing a total of 4,019gm (6,514gm in 2003) 
followed by ganja with a total weight of 2,057gm (457gm in 2003).

Last year, 1,440 people were arrested for possession of drugs compared to 
1,153 in 2003.

The number of traffickers arrested under Section 39B of the DDA increased 
by four cases from 18 cases with 37 arrests in 2003 to 22 cases with 46 
arrests.

Based on statistics, Mangsor said Sabah was still far from reaching the 
target of "zero drug". In 2004, 5,476 drug addicts were arrested compared 
to 3,516 in 2003, an increase of 35.78 percent.

During the ceremony, Mangsor handed over 32 Kancils to 30 
officers-in-charge-of-station (OCS) and to police headquarters at Kepayan, 
as well as eight Toyota Hiace Diesel Vans to various Narcotics Divisions in 
the State and Labuan.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jo-D