KUCHING (April 29): A 34-year-old habitual drug user was today sentenced by the Sessions Court here to five years’ imprisonment and one stroke of the cane for methamphetamine and amphetamine abuse.

Judge Saiful Bahari Adzmi delivered the sentence against Fedrick Steward Mancha, after he pleaded guilty to a charge under Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 (DDA), punishable under Section 39C(1)(b) of the same Act.

Section 15(1)(a) of the DDA 1952 provides for a fine of up to RM5,000, imprisonment for up to two years, or both, while Section 39C(1)(b) prescribes a mandatory custodial sentence of not less than five years and not more than seven years, along with a maximum of three strokes of the cane upon conviction.