JOHOR BARU, May 6 — A 48-year-old Singaporean man faced the death penalty at the Sessions Court here today on five charges of possessing and trafficking 10.11kg of drugs last month.
The accused, Tan Ban Choon, nodded as the charges were read out in Mandarin before Judge Mohammad Khalid Ab Karim.
However, no plea was recorded as the case falls under the jurisdiction of the High Court.
According to the charge sheet read out separately, Tan, who is unemployed, is charged with trafficking 10,024g of 3,4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) powder.
The charge was framed under Section 39B (1) (A) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, punishable under Section 39B (2) of the same Act, which provides for the death penalty or life imprisonment and a whipping of not less than 15 strokes, if convicted.
In the same court, the accused also faced four charges of possessing heroin with a gross weight of 9.00 grammes, cannabis (44g) and 3,4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine powder (6g) and ketamine 31.30 g.
All the acts involving distribution and possession were committed at a house in Danga Bay here on April 23 at 10pm.
The charge was framed under Section 12 (2) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and is punishable under Section 12 (3) of the same Act, which provides for a fine not exceeding RM100,000 or imprisonment not exceeding five years or both, upon conviction.
The charge was also made under Section 6 of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and is punishable under Section 39A of the same Act, which provides for a minimum imprisonment of two years but not exceeding five years and not less than three strokes of the cane and not more than nine strokes of the cane.
The case was prosecuted by Deputy Public Prosecutor Siti Fatimah Mamu, while the accused was unrepresented.
The court did not set bail and the case was scheduled for mention on July 29 with a chemistry report.
