BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (Borneo Bulletin/Asia News Network): The High Court on Tuesday (Jan 31) called to hear the case involving a syndicated family drugs ring dubbed the ‘Musang King’.
Defence counsel Daud Ismail has discharged himself from representing Isamuddin Ahmad on the advice of his family who are financially constrained.
On Monday, the Magistrate’s Court gave its ruling in the preliminary inquiries for two of the charges carrying the death penalty against all of the defendants.After going through the inquiries involving 237 documents and 51 exhibits, the court heard that the defendants are reserving their defence for the High Court.
The defendants – Ahmad Tamit and his wife Maskunah Wahab, their children Isamuddin, Mohammad Saifuddin and Siti Izzatul Munirah and her husband Jakaria bin Ahad – are charged with two offences under Chapter 27, Section 3A of the Misuse of Drugs Act carrying the death penalty.
The defendants are alleged to have possesed 12,226.65 grammes of methylamphetamine in the form of crystalline substances contained in an orange tong, and 784.86 grammes of methylamphetamine in crystal form inside a blue bottle.
They are further alleged to have possessed 151.53 grammes of methylamphetamine in crystal form inside a bottle and 227.89 grammes of methylamphetamine in crystal form inside another bottle.
Isamuddin alone faces one charge of possessing 35.70 grammes of methylamphetamine in crystal form inside a black plastic bag on the same occasion.
This offence carries a penalty between 20 and 30 years’ imprisonment with mandatory whipping of 15 strokes.
The Narcotics Control Bureau found the drugs in the vicinity of a house in Jalan Junjongan on Sept 10, 2020. The defendants live in houses in the area.
Siti Izzatul Munirah and Jakaria are charged with possessing proceeds of crime under Section 3 of the Criminal Asset Recovery Order 2012 amounting to BND80,000 to over BND100,000.
They are also charged with concealing the ownership of a vehicle by registering it under a third party’s name.
Siti Izzatul Munirah also faces a charge of possessing over 50 gold jewellery items allegedly proceeds of crime.
Chief Justice Dato Seri Paduka Steven Chong heard from all defendants seeking to apply for legal aid. The Chief Justice adjourned the case to February 22 to give way for the prosecution to prepare additional charges to be levelled against the defendants, and for the Chief Registrar to consider the legal aid application.
All defendants are ordered to remain in remand pending trial.
Deputy Public Prosecutors Hajah Suriana Radin, Dayangku Didi-Nuraza Pengiran Abdul Latiff and Prosecutors Khalillah binti Hussin, Kamal Ariffin Ismail and Syafina Abdul Hadzid represented the Public Prosecutor in the case.
