(Bandar Seri Begawan, 4th) According to local English-language reports, former Level 2 Assistant Narcotics Control Officer Iskandar was charged before Senior Magistrate Azrima with five counts of violating Section 12B, Chapter 131 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, with two additional counts taken into consideration. This provision stipulates a fine of BND 30,000 and imprisonment for 7 years.
The defendant pleaded guilty to all charges. The Senior Magistrate subsequently sentenced him to a total jail term of 2 years and 8 months. However, the prosecution considered the sentence too lenient and immediately filed an appeal to the High Court.
The appeal was heard by Judicial Commissioner Sufian of the Supreme Court. The prosecution requested the court to reconsider aggravating factors in the case, including the extent of Iskandar’s abuse of his position as a Level 2 Assistant Narcotics Control Officer, the frequency of misconduct, the nature of the information disclosed, and the impact of his actions on the Narcotics Control Bureau as a whole—the only agency in Brunei tasked with eradicating the use, supply, and trafficking of illicit drugs.
In its judgment, the court noted that the aggravating factors present in the case indicated that the starting point for sentencing should be closer to the maximum penalty stipulated under Section 12B, namely seven years’ imprisonment. The judge emphasized that the most concerning aspect of the case was Iskandar’s abuse of power for personal gain and the overall impact of his actions on public trust and the integrity of the national drug control agency.
In the end, the Judicial Commissioner ordered the original sentence to be increased to four years’ imprisonment. The appeal was handled by Deputy Public Prosecutor Siti Kalila.