GEORGE TOWN: Five friends were charged in the magistrate’s court here today with four separate counts of drug trafficking and possession about two weeks ago.
Muhammad Khalis Abdul Kudus, 39, Amirul Din Abdul Aziz, 44, and Mohd Firdaus Mohd Fodzi, 40, faced drug trafficking charges, while Khalis, Amirul Din, Firdaus, Mohd Ekmal Kamarudin, 47, and Azhar Omar, 57, faced drug possession charges.
On the first count, Khalis, Amirul Din and Firdaus were jointly charged with trafficking 29,902g of cannabis at the parking lot in front of a house at Persiaran Sungai Gelugor 2 here about 11.50pm on Aug 15.
On the second count, Khalis and Amirul Din were jointly charged with trafficking 16,179g of cannabis at a house at Persiaran Sungai Gelugor 2 here about 12.50am on Aug 16.
Both charges were framed under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, punishable under Section 39B() of the same act and read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code.
The offence carries the death penalty or life imprisonment and no less than 12 strokes of the rotan upon conviction.
Khalis, Amirul and Firdaus merely nodded to indicate that they understood the charges against them.
However, no plea was recorded as the case falls under the jurisdiction of the High Court.
The charges against them were read out before magistrate Siti Nurul Suhaila Baharin.
Deputy public prosecutor Lau Shavin prosecuted, while only Khalis was represented by counsel Muhamad Asri Abdul Hamid.
The rest were unrepresented.
Meanwhile, on the third count, Khalis, Ekmal and Azhar were jointly charged with possessing 43.91g of cannabis at the living room of a house at Persiaran Sungai Gelugor 2 here about 11.30pm on Aug 15.
The charge was framed under Section 6 of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, punishable under Section 39A(1) of the same act and read together under Section 34 of the Penal Code.
Khalis claimed trial to the offence while both Ekmal and Azhar pleaded guilty.
Lau asked the court to set bail at RM8,000 with one surety for both Ekmal and Azhar.
A National Legal Aid Foundation (YBGK) lawyer told the court that Ekmal works as a banker, earning RM6,000 a month.
“He has a mother to care for.
“As for Azhar, he works as a lorry driver, earning RM2,100 a month. He also has a child to care for,” the lawyer told the court.
The court also heard that Khalis was unemployed.
Siti Nurul Suhaila allowed bail at RM4,000 each for Ekmal and Azhar with one surety.
And, on the final count, Amirul Din and Firdaus claimed trial to possessing 2.96g of cannabis in a room at a house at Persiaran Sungai Gelugor 2 here about 11.40pm on Aug 15.
The charge was framed under Section 6 of the Dangerous Drug Act 1952, punishable under the same act and read together under Section 34 of the Penal Code.
Lau asked the court to set bail at RM5,000 with one surety for both Amirul Din and Firdaus.
The YBGK lawyer told the court that both accused work as fishermen with Amirul Din and Firdaus earning RM2,000 and RM1,500 respectively. Both of them have three children each.
Siti Nurul Suhaila allowed bail at RM3,000 each for Amirul Din and Firdaus with one surety.
She also fixed Nov 12 for mention of all the cases pending the chemist reports.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
