Tight security: Armed policemen guarding the Kota Kinabalu court for the ‘Geng Upik’ trial.
KOTA KINABALU: A Datuk, who is the patron of a non-governmental organisation, a franchise business owner and two policemen were among 11 people charged over involvement with a criminal organisation linked to the biggest Sabah drug cartel.
Pakat Sabah Malaysia patron Datuk Maslan Sani, 41, businessman Nelson Yee Yen Chung, former Tawau CID officer Insp Rahman Buriin, 44, and General Operations Force cop Sjn Jaisalfian Jaineh @ Zaini, 45, were charged under Section 130V (1) of the Penal Code with being members of the criminal organisation.
The others facing similar charges are Mohd Fauzie Rablin, 33; Shahlan Shah Abdul Samad, 37; Mohd Faridzul Asmahadi, 31; Fazrul Bahar, 32; Alkan Abraham, 35; Mazlan Mahmud, 41; and Mahathir Jibarail, 49.
No plea was recorded following the charges against the 11 men before Sessions Court judge Noor Hafizah Mohd Salim, who set March 1 for the case to be mentioned and for it to be transferred to the High Court.
All 11, who are members of Geng Upik, were accused of being involved with organised crime at different times between early 2015 and Dec 24 last year.
Maslan, Shahlan and Alkan were accused of committing the offence in 2015, while Rahman, Jaisalfian, Mazlan, and Mahathir in 2018.
Mohd Faridzul and Fazrul were accused of being involved in 2020, Mohd Fauzie in 2022 and Yee in 2023.
They face between five and 20 years imprisonment if found guilty. All the accused were not given bail.
The prosecution was conducted by Deputy Public Prosecutors Datuk Nazran Mohd Sham, Siti Hajah Mat Radzi and Nur Ainaa Ridzwan.
Lawyers Muhamad Amirul Amin represented Jaisalfian, Sylyester Kuan represented Mohd Fauzie, while Shahlan Jufri and Mohd Luqman Syazwan Zabidi represented Shahlan, Mohd Faridzul and Fazrul.
