A RELA assistant officer faces up to 14 years in jail after pleading guilty to possessing a pistol, ammunition, a fake gun and two kerambit knives

KUALA TERENGGANU: A Malaysian Volunteer Corps Department (RELA) assistant officer pleaded guilty at the Sessions Court here today to four charges involving possession of a firearm, ammunition, sharp weapons, and a fake pistol.

Mohd Faizal Fauzi, 39, was charged with unlawfully possessing a Smith & Wesson pistol under Section 8 of the Firearms (Increased Penalties) Act 1971, which provides for imprisonment of up to 14 years and no fewer than six strokes of the cane upon conviction.

For the second charge, he was accused of possessing 77 rounds of ammunition without a valid licence under Section 8(a) of the Firearms Act 1960, which carries a maximum sentence of seven years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to RM10,000, or both.

Mohd Faizal also faces a charge of possessing an imitation Airsoft Kimber Yonkers NY USA pistol under Section 36(1) of the Firearms Act 1960, which carries a sentence of up to one year in prison, a maximum fine of RM5,000, or both.

For the fourth charge, he was accused of possessing two kerambit with wooden sheaths, considered dangerous weapons, in a public place without lawful purpose under Section 6(1) of the Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act 1958, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years and whipping.

The accused was alleged to have committed all the offences inside a car parked by the roadside at Kampung Tok Lawit Road in Hulu Terengganu at 6.30 pm on May 10.

Judge Mohd Zul Zakiqudin Zulkifli denied bail and set June 7 for sentencing.

The prosecution was conducted by Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Nur Aisyah Mohamad, while Mohd Faizal was unrepresented.

Earlier, Mohd Faizal was brought before the Marang Magistrate’s Court on two charges of drug trafficking and possession allegedly committed on the same day, time, and location but no plea was recorded as the case falls under the jurisdiction of the High Court.

Under the first charge, he was accused of trafficking cannabis weighing 227.18 grams (g) under Section 39B(2) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the death penalty and no fewer than 12 strokes of the cane upon conviction.

For the second charge, the accused was alleged to have had in his possession suspected Nitrazepam weighing 18.56 g under Section 12(2) of the same Act, which carries a penalty of a fine not exceeding RM100,000, imprisonment of up to five years, or both.

Magistrate Nur Athirah Hashim denied bail and fixed Aug 24 for case mention. The prosecution was conducted by DPP Maisarah Abd Razak.