TAWAU: Two local men appeared before the Magistrate’s Court here yesterday on charges of trafficking more than 130 kilograms of syabu (methamphetamine), following a drug bust in the Batu 15 area along Jalan Apas last month.
The accused, Ng Chuan Tong, 51, and Herman Patte, 35, each nodded to acknowledge the charge when it was read by Magistrate Dayang Aidaku Amira Aminuddin. No formal plea was taken, however, as the case falls under the jurisdiction of the High Court.
According to the charge sheet, the duo is accused of jointly trafficking 130,575.18 grams of dangerous drugs at the location around 9.30 pm on April 21.
The prosecution, led by Deputy Public Prosecutor Muhammad Haikal Hazwan Md Yatin, invoked Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, read together with Section 34 of the same law. A conviction under the section carries either the death penalty, life imprisonment, or whipping.
No bail was offered, as the offence is not bailable. Both accused appeared without legal representation.
The court has scheduled June 2 as the next mention date, pending the submission of a full chemical report.
Earlier, both men had been remanded for 14 days following their arrest during an operation by the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Division of the Tawau District Police Headquarters. The operation led to the discovery of a substantial stash of suspected syabu concealed inside a sport utility vehicle (SUV). – James Leong
The two accused were escorted out of court after the case proceedings were completed.
