A High Court today sentenced a Thai national to 13 years in jail and 10 strokes of the cane for possessing 1,997 grams (70 ounces) of marijuana.

Hussain Ismail, 34, a chicken seller, was initially charged with trafficking, which carries the death sentence.

However, Justice Sulaiman Daud reduced the charge to one of possession as the prosecution had failed to prove he intended to distribute the drug, the offical Bernama news agency said.

Under the Dangerous Drugs Act the reduced charge carried a maximum sentence of 20 years in jail and 10 strokes of the cane.

Hussain, who was caught with the drugs in his home in January, said that it was his first offence and he urged the court to take into account his guilty plea which had saved the court time and costs.

In passing sentence, the judge said the court had to take the public interest into account.

Malaysia's tough drug laws prescribe death as the penalty for trafficking in most types of narcotics. - AFP