DOCTOR JAILED FOR HAVING DRUGS

KUANTAN, Tues.

A Doctor Escaped The Gallows When He Pleaded Guilty To An Alternative
Charge Of Possessing Dihydrocodeine Pills, Which Are Classified As
Dangerous Drugs, Two Years Ago.

Dr Allwee Idris, 43, was instead sentenced to four years' jail and
fined RM20,000 or six months' imprisonment.

He was originally charged with three counts of trafficking in codeine
and dihydrocodeine in 2004. He had pleaded not guilty to all the
charges which carry the mandatory death sentence.

However, the prosecution offered alternative charges for the three
counts today and Dr Allwee was only required to plead guilty to the
third charge and admit the first two charges.

In the alternative charges, the word trafficking had been changed to
possessing.

The new charges are under Section 12 (2) of the Dangerous Drugs Act
which carries a maximum fine of RM100,000 or five years' jail or both.

Dr Allwee pleaded guilty to the charge of possessing 150.38gm of
dihydrocodeines at his home at No. 4, Lorong IM 10/3, Bukit Istana
about 2.45pm on Oct 6, 2004.

He also admitted having 9.22gm of codeine in the Kompleks Teruntum car
park about 1.30pm and 77.65gm of the same substance at his home about
2.45pm on the same day.

Judicial Commissioner Datuk Abd Halim Aman said he had to impose a
deterrent sentence as Dr Allwee was a medical professional who was
supposed to help curb drug abuse among the people.

"It will also deter others," said Halim who ordered the jail term to
begin from the date of Dr Allwee's arrest on Oct 6, 2004.

Earlier, in mitigation counsel Jagdeep Singh Deo said his client was
an active social worker and had never committed a crime before.

He said his client had bought the pills before the authorities
classified the substance as dangerous drugs.

At this juncture, Halim reminded Jagdeep that his argument might
jeopardise the guilty plea made by Dr Allwee and asked the counsel not
to raise doubts on the matter.

Deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Rosli Mohd Sham said as a medical
practitioner, the accused should be more responsible.

"The degree of his offence is much higher as he has no reasons to
commit such an offence. Other criminals may do it because they are
poor or due to other factors," he said.

Dr Allwee was calm throughout the proceedings, but his wife, a senior
officer at the State Health Department, was visibly upset.