He had taken Ecstasy and allowed others to take drugs in his flat
By
Elena Chong
and
Teh Joo Lin
Yunani and the others were caught when CNB officers raided his flat after seeing a suspected drug trafficker entering. -- ST FILE PHOTO
1992: Given a discharge not amounting to an acquittal for trafficking in cannabis
2008: Set free a second time for trafficking
A MAN previously freed twice for drug trafficking was jailed for three years yesterday on more drug-related charges.
Yunani Abdul Hamid, 34, was given the minimum two years for permitting his Bukit Panjang flat to be used by seven people to consume methamphetamine, or 'Ice', and Ecstasy last November.
He was also given a year's jail for taking Ecstasy a day earlier on Nov 6.
Yesterday, Deputy Public Prosecutor Ramu Miyapan said CNB officers raided Yunani's flat in Lompang Road on Nov 7 after seeing Misran Jumaat, 30, a suspected drug trafficker, entering the flat.
Inside, they arrested Yunani's fiancee, Rohani Tompang, 38, and another woman in the living room for suspected drug-taking. A couple were also arrested in a bedroom.
Officers forced open a locked bedroom where Yunani, Misran and two other men were found.
Misran was seen throwing items out of the bedroom window which included drugs. Drug and gaming paraphernalia were also found in the room.
All eight were taken to CNB offices for urine tests. They tested positive for drugs that included Ecstasy and Ice.
DPP Ramu said that on that day, Misran told Yunani that he would be joining him and the other accomplices in the gambling sessions that Yunani had often organised in his flat.
Misran took with him packets of Ice and some drug paraphernalia.
While the others were gambling, Misran prepared Ice and passed an improvised pipe around to the others to inhale.
All except Yunani inhaled the Ice mixture, the court heard.
Misran told CNB that Yunani had previously allowed his flat to be used for drug-taking during their regular gambling sessions.
Misran was sentenced to seven years' jail and 10 strokes of the cane last week after pleading guilty to trafficking and drug-related offences.
First- and second-time offenders caught consuming drugs are usually sent to drug rehabilitation centres to help them kick their addiction. In cases where such offenders also face other more serious drug-related charges, they are usually taken to court.
The six other people caught in Yunani's flat, excluding Misran, have been admitted to drug rehabilitation centres.
Yunani, who pleaded guilty in court last Friday, asked why he was being charged with consumption when he was now in a drug rehabilitation centre.
The DPP replied that there was evidence that Yunani had taken drugs, and it was the prerogative of the prosecution to prefer charges.
Pleading for a light sentence or a fine, Yunani said he had to support his two children and mother who is unwell.
During mitigation, Yunani initially said he did not intend to make his flat a place for drug-taking but when asked point-blank by District Judge Hamidah Ibrahim if he had allowed the accomplices to use the flat to consume drugs, he said: 'Yes'.
The former port worker made news last April when he was set free a second time for trafficking in cannabis. He was also given a discharge in 1992 on a different case of drug trafficking.
The fresh drug charges have been met with shock and disbelief by Yunani's family members.
His former wife, who had not been in recent touch with him, said: 'When we dated, he didn't like to hang out with them (drug abusers).'
When they met last September, the 34-year-old woman observed that Yunani was depressed.
'He was really very sad from the trauma of what he went through,' she said.
August 1992: Yunani Abdul Hamid, 18, is charged with trafficking 933g of cannabis - a capital offence.
December 1992: He is given a discharge not amounting to an acquittal because his alleged accomplice, Abdul Aziz Idros, 25, had disappeared.
April 2007: Abdul Aziz is caught at a police roadblock and Yunani, re-arrested later that day.
November 2007: Abdul Aziz pleads guilty to a reduced charge of trafficking 329g of cannabis and drug consumption. He is given 12 years' jail and eight strokes of the cane. He claims drugs belonged to Yunani, who is sentenced to nine years and six strokes. Yunani appeals.
March 2008: Judge of Appeal V. K. Rajah sets aside Yunani's conviction and orders a re-trial, at the same time criticising the Central Narcotics Bureau for dragging its heels in the investigation, which the judge said was 'slipshod'. Justice Rajah also said the 15-year delay was a 'more serious lapse' and that Yunani had rebuilt his life since then and had remained free of crime.
April 2008: Yunani is cleared at the re-trial. Abdul Aziz changes his statement while on the stand and admits that the cannabis did not belong to Yunani.
November 2008: Yunani and seven others are arrested for drug activities at his Bukit Panjang flat.
