Couple, Acquaintance Charged With Drug Trafficking

KOTA TINGGI, Sept 12 (Bernama) -- A married couple and a woman acquaintance were charged in the Sessions Court here today with trafficking drugs last week.

Muhammad Fairul Jaafar, 43, his Indonesian wife Elika Safitri, 33, and NurSahkila Yusof, 39, were jointly charged with trafficking 80,330 grammes of methamphetamine at Jalan Anggerik 8, Taman Sri Penawar, Kota Tinggi, at 10.30 pm on Sept 2.

They nodded in understanding after the charges were read separately before Judge Hayda Faridzal Abu Hasan, but no plea was recorded as the case comes under the jurisdiction of the High Court.

The charge, framed under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, carries the death penalty or life imprisonment and not less than 15 strokes of the cane, upon conviction.

Deputy public prosecutor Nor Afiqah Musa appeared for the prosecution, while Muhammad Fairul and Elika Safitri were represented by lawyer Nor Shahid Abd Malik.

No bail was granted and the court fixed Oct 13 for mention pending the submission of the chemistry report.

Meanwhile, in the same court, Muhammad Fairul, who operates a workshop, was also charged with self-administering methamphetamine and amphetamine at the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department office, Kota Tinggi District Police Headquarters, at about 8.50 pm on Sept 18, 2023.

The charge was framed under Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and punishable under Section 15(1) of the same Act, which provides for a fine not exceeding RM5,000 or up to two years’ imprisonment, and supervision for not less than two years and not more than three years, if convicted.

However, he pleaded not guilty to the charge, and the court fixed the same date for mention.

-- BERNAMA