Kota Kinabalu: Three Sarawakian men were tentatively charged in the Magistrate’s Court, Friday, with trafficking 52kg of syabu, early this year.
Lee Kee Yoong, 26, Lee Kee Sing, 38, and Louis Hew Kong, 38, who were brought before Magistrate Wan Farrah Farriza Wan Ghazali were jointly accused of trafficking the drugs with a gross weight of 52,250gm at 12.55pm on Sept 7 at the parking of the Narcotics Crime Investigation Department, Sabah Police Headquarters.
However, no plea was recorded from them after the charge was read out to them.
They were charged under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries a punishment of either the death penalty or life in prison and whipping with a minimum of 15 strokes read with Section 34 of the Penal Code.
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Wan Farrah set Oct 31 for mention and ordered the accused to be further remanded.
The trio were represented by counsel PJ Perira while Inspector Navind Kumar Vijayan prosecuted.
It was reported on Sept 12 that Sabah police busted a drug trafficking syndicate with the seizure of 50.25kg of syabu worth at least RM3 million – the biggest this year – and the arrest of three Sarawakians, on Sept 7.
Meanwhile, two men, who were charged with driving their respective cars in a dangerous manner, were freed of the charge.
Magistrate Stephanie Sherron Abbie discharged and acquitted Nur Faizullah Abd Rahim and Mohd Nur-Albaraq Darussalam, both 32, without their defence being called.
“The prosecution had failed to prove a prima facie case against both accused and therefore both accused to be discharged and acquitted,” held Stephanie, who also ordered their bail to be refunded.
Nur Faizullah and Mohd Nur-Albaraq were charged with committing the offence at 1.25am on June 23, 2019 along the Penampang bypass in front of the ITCC Mall in Penampang.
They had on Sept 22, 2020 claimed trial to the charge under Section 42(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, which carries a jail term of up to five years and fines of between RM5,000 and RM15,000, on conviction.
Nur Faizullah and Mohd Nur-Albaraq were represented by counsel Faezah Abby Ibnu and Chris Thian, respectively.
Traffic Inspector Mohd Firdaus Che Mustafa prosecuted.
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