Drugs: Duo face four counts

Kota Kinabalu: Two men were charged at the Magistrate’s Court, here, with four counts of trafficking cannabis.

Karaoke centre manager Antonio Faiz Tho Zhi Guang, 21 and self-employed Leslie Loh Teck Cheon, 28, were brought before Magistrate Jessica Ombou Kakayun, Tuesday.

They were each charged with two counts of the offence under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act.

ADVERTISEMENT

Tho on the first count, was accused of trafficking 272gm of cannabis at 8.40pm on Sept 29, this year on a stairways of Block C, first floor of Bundusan Commercial Centre, Penampang.

On the second count, Tho allegedly trafficked 563gm of cannabis at 9.40pm on Sept 29, in a house at Taman Pertama Mahandoi, Phase 2, Jalan NC Mogunting, Penampang.

Meanwhile, Loh was accused of trafficking 260gm of cannabis at 6.30pm on Sept 29, this year at Lorong Bundusan Centre 2-2.

On the second count, Loh allegedly trafficking 540gm of cannabis at 7pm on Sept 29 at the Kaya Ria Enterprise, Block C, second floor of Bundusan Centre.

ADVERTISEMENT

No plea was taken from both after the charges were read out.

Each charge carries a punishment with either the death penalty or life in prison and whipping with a minimum of 15 strokes.

The prosecution applied for another mention date pending the chemist’s report and offered no bail for the accused.

Jessica set Dec 17 and Nov 17 for mention of Tho and Loh’s cases, respectively.

Tho and Loh were ordered to be remanded further as the charges against them have no provision for bail.

Inspector Albert Basiri prosecuted.

Tho and Loh were represented by counsel Cedric Choo and Luke Ressa Balang, respectively.