TAWAU: Three couples, including a boyfriend and girlfriend, who were arrested at a luxury homestay here while celebrating a birthday party, were charged with two offences, namely trafficking ecstasy and possessing ketamine, at the Magistrates’ Court Friday.
Chang Vui Hiung, 28, Lisyanti Brahim, 39, Shazzreena, 20, Muhammad Haikal Daniel Azman, 22, Sherlin Liew Zi Ling, 25, and Andi Moh Arifai Tatta, 29, had the charges read out to them before Magistrate Dayang Aidaku Amira Aminuddin.
No plea was recorded for the charge of trafficking MDMA (ecstasy) weighing 659.16gm under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the death penalty or life imprisonment alongside 12 strokes of the cane, if not sentenced to death, on conviction.
Meanwhile, all six pleaded guilty to possessing 1.16gm of ketamine under Section 12(2) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which provides for a fine of up to RM100,000, a prison term of up to five years, or both, on conviction.
Both offences were allegedly committed in a ground-floor room of a luxury homestay on Jalan Kuhara around 4.30am on Aug 26.
The court set Sept 18 for mention pending the chemistry report and offered bail of RM2,000 for each accused for the charge under Section 12(2) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
All the accused locals remain in custody, as offences under Section 39B(1)(a) are non-bailable.
The prosecution was conducted by Prosecuting Officer ASP Jeffrey Kadison, while the accused were unrepresented.
It was previously reported that the three couples were remanded for four days until Aug 30 to assist with investigations following their arrest during the raid on the luxury homestay.
The premises were believed to have been rented by one of the female accused at RM1,500 a night to celebrate the birthday of a friend who was also co-charged.
