KUALA LUMPUR: Four men, comprising a Malaysian and three Singaporeans, were charged at the Ampang Magistrate’s Court yesterday with trafficking liquid cocaine last week.
Malaysian Kong Sien Mee, 57, and the three Singaporeans – Quek Kien Seng, 45, Tristan Chew Jin Zhong, 25, and Ivan Tan Zhi Xuan, 31, nodded when the charge was read out to them before Magistrate Amalina Basirah Md Top.
However, no plea was recorded from all the accused as the case falls under the jurisdiction of the High Court, Bernama reported.
The four were jointly charged under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 with trafficking 9420.2 ml of cocaine at the exit of a hotel here at 11.45am last June 19.
They face the death sentence or life imprisonment, and if not sentenced to death, a minimum of 12 strokes of the cane, upon conviction.
The court set Sept 8 for mention and submission of the chemist’s report.
The prosecution was conducted by Deputy Public Prosecutor M. Ramanathan Alias Ashwin, while the three Singaporeans were represented by lawyer Ille Maryam Yusnawannie.
Kong was unrepresented.
Meanwhile in Putrajaya, the Court of Appeal upheld the death sentence imposed on a man who murdered his nine-year-old daughter in 2018.
A three-member bench consisting of Justices Ahmad Zaidi Ibrahim, Azman Abdullah and Azmi Ariffin dismissed an appeal by Mohammad Abdullah Mohamed against his conviction and sentence by the High Court.
Deputy public prosecutor Datin Asmah Musa, appearing for the prosecution, and Mohammad Abdullah’s lawyer Afifuddin Ahmad Hafifi, confirmed the court’s decision to Bernama.
Asmah said Justice Azmi, who delivered the court’s decision, said that while the Abolition of Mandatory Death Penalty Act 2023 provides discretionary sentencing between 30 and 40 years, the court found the death sentence was appropriate after considering the aggravated and mitigating factors.
According to the facts of the case, Mohammad Abdullah had instructed Nur Aina Nabihah and her other siblings to do 500 push-ups and sit-ups as punishment for failing to perform prayers.
When his daughter became too weak to continue, he assaulted her.
