Underage teens among 11 friends charged with drug distribution

Some of the accused covered their faces while being led into the Johor Baru court complex on Oct 2, 2023, where they were charged with drug distribution.

JOHOR BARU: Eleven friends, including two underage teens, have been charged at the Magistrates’ Court here with distributing three types of drugs amounting to more than 19.4kg.

The accused are Yek Zhu Jie, 19, Tan Chee Seng, 21, How Jia Lerk, 23, Kenny Loo Yee Han, 24, Ooi Zhi Wei, 27, and Chong Chew Nam, 32, and all were brought to the court on Monday (Oct 2).

They were charged with three counts of drug distribution.

Additionally Eva Chua Min, 19, Phang Jing Yi, 22, and Goh Yoong Cheng, 30 and two 17-year-old youths also face the same charges.

All 11 of them allegedly distributed 18,881g of methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA), 558g of ketamine and 52g of nimetazepam at a house in Jalan Bukit Skudai 6, Taman Bukit Skudai here around 2am on Sept 23.

The charges were read to them in Mandarin by the court interpreter.

They were charged under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which is punishable under Section 39B(2) of the same Act.

If found guilty, the accused could face a death sentence or lifetime imprisonment, and if not given a death sentence he or she could be whipped at least 15 times.

No plea was recorded.

Magistrate A. Shaarmini fixed Nov 2, for mention and the submission of chemical reports.

No bail was granted to the accused as specific provision in the Act does not allow consideration of such an application.

The prosecution was represented by deputy public prosecutor Shamira Mohd Luthfi Ismail.

One of the accused, How, was represented by lawyer Chew Pong Him while Chua and Chong were represented by Datin Freda Sabapathy and Muhammad Mohd Nasir respectively.