A former vocalist of the Exist band, Mamat, was fined RM4,000, in default six months’ jail, by the Magistrate’s Court in Ampang today after he pleaded guilty to a charge of consuming methamphetamine.

Magistrate Noor Farah Hazwani Othman also ordered the singer, whose real name is Mohd Ali Kamarudin, 36, to be placed under police observation for three years.

Mamat was charged with taking the drug at the Narcotic Criminal Investigation Division of the Ampang district police headquarters at 11pm last March 26.

In mitigation, lawyer Fadlyzil Ikram Norzailan Shah, representing Mamat, said his client promised not to repeat the offence and did not want to waste his talent in singing.

However, deputy public prosecutor Nurakmal Farhan Aziz, who prosecuted, asked for a deterrent sentence as the accused was known by many and had his own fans.

“As a public figure, he should be a role model to his fans and followers. He also has a record for a similar offence,” he added.

Meanwhile, Fadlyzil Ikram told the media that the singer’s foster brother from Singapore paid the fine.

Mamat is currently serving time at the Bentong Prison for a similar offence after he failed to pay fine of RM4,500 imposed by the Raub Magistrate’s Court last April.

- Bernama