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Published: Wednesday May 6, 2009 MYT 3:34:00 PM

Drug addict gets tongue-lashing from judge

By MEERA VIJAYAN and DESIREE TRESA GASPER


JOHOR BARU: A Magistrate delivered a tongue-lashing to a drug addict when he admitted to spending RM20 out of his RM35 daily wage on drugs, despite having to support a pregnant wife and seven children.

The accused Ramzali Kassim, 32, from Jalan Landak in Taman Century here, had pleaded guilty to taking morphine at the Johor Baru (South) Narcotics Department police station at around 8am on April 22. He tested positive for drugs there.

In his mitigation, Ramzali had asked for a lighter sentence, telling Magistrate Hafizah Johor Ariff Johor that he had a pregnant wife and seven children to look after.

At that point, Magistrate Hafizah Johor asked him if he worked and how much he earned.

Ramzali told her he worked at a car-wash and earned about RM35 a day. Magistrate Hafizah Johor then demanded to know how much he spent on drugs and how much of his wages he gave his wife and children.

“I spend about RM20 on myself,” he told the incredulous magistrate, who then asked him how he expected his large family to support themselves on just RM15 a day.

“What sort of husband are you? Don’t bother apologising to me,” she said as he was about to say sorry.

She then sentenced him to an RM1,000 fine or one month’s jail.

Magistrate Hafizah Johor also ordered him to be under police supervision and to report to the Johor Baru (South) police station once a month for the next two years.

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