SIBU: The Sessions Court here today (Sept 19) fined a 27-year-old woman RM5,000, in default one month’s imprisonment for contravening the Poison Act 1952.
Judge Marutin Pagan imposed the fine on Noraszaiti Omar after she pleaded no contest to the charge against her.
According to the charge sheet, she was found to have dispensed Acugesic Capsule 50mg, a Group B poison as medicine without prescription from a registered medical practitioner. The capsules contain Tramadol, a poison which is listed in the First Schedule of the Poisons Act 1952.
The offence was committed at a pharmacy store in Jalan Wong Soon Kai around 10 am on Feb 16.
Punishable under Section 32(2) of the Poison Act 1952, the offence carries a fine of up to RM50,000 or five years’ jail or both.
According to facts of the case, on Feb 16, at about 10 am, a pharmacy enforcement officer, Chio Sie Hieng from the Health Department, had instructed his staff to conduct a test buy at a pharmacy outlet in Jalan Wong Soon Kai.
The staff had successfully bought the item.
At about 10.13 am, Chio together with his enforcement team entered the premises and explained their purpose to a woman who claimed to be the pharmacy assistant.
Upon investigation, it was found that no poison licence for year 2023 was issued under the accused name.
Noraszaiti, who was not represented by a legal counsel, paid the fine.
