Kota Kinabalu: A 46-year-old man, Jaafar Ismal, was tentatively charged at the Magistrate’s Court, here, with drug trafficking.
No plea was recorded when the charge was read out before Magistrate Wan Farrah Farriza Wah Ghazali.
Jaafar is accused of trafficking 119.4 grams of 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) at 10.20pm on Sept 19 at a car park in Inanam Taipan, Inanam.
The charge, framed under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act (DDA) 1952, carries the mandatory death penalty or life imprisonment, along with a minimum of 15 strokes of the cane upon conviction.
He was also charged with drug consumption under Section 15(1) of the Dangerous Drugs Act, which carries a fine of up to RM5,000 or up to two years’ imprisonment upon conviction.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Akaash Singh informed the court that the chemist’s reports are still pending and applied for a new mention date.
DPP Akaash also stated that Jaafar is undocumented and bail was not offered, as drug trafficking charges do not provide for bail. The court set Oct 28 for mention, pending receipt of the chemist’s reports.
Jaafar, unrepresented, was ordered to remain in custody.
