KUALA LUMPUR – The suspect in the incident involving the unauthorised landing of a helicopter to collect packets of nasi ganja in Ipoh mid-last year is expected to be charged on May 9, said police.
Bukit Aman Criminal Investigations Department chief Datuk Seri Abd Jalil Hassan said the suspect is expected to be charged at the Ipoh magistrates’ court, as police have wrapped up investigations into the matter and have submitted their findings to state prosecutors.
He said the investigation papers have been sent to the State Prosecution Director’s office and police have given them instructions to charge the suspect under Regulation 77(2) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 2016.
In a statement, he added that the suspect was found to have failed to follow the flight plans submitted to authorities after landing the helicopter at a location that was not a designated aerodrome.
He also said if found guilty the offender can be slapped with an RM50,000 fine or a three-year prison sentence, or both.
Police launched an investigation last July, shortly after reports emerged of a helicopter landing in Padang Ipoh to pick up 36 packets of nasi ganja, constituting a possible breach of movement control order standard operating procedures (SOP).
At the time, Perak police chief Datuk Mior Faridalathrash Wahid had said police had opened investigations into the company that owns the helicopter.
Checks with the Ipoh branch of the Malaysian Civil Aviation Authority showed the helicopter was only allowed to land at Sultan Azlan Shah Airport.
However, the helicopter managed to land at Padang Ipoh between 9.55am and 10.15am on July 23, 2021 to pick up the order, sparking social media debate among netizens on a possible breach of SOPs. – The Vibes, May 1, 2022
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