A lawyer faces three charges for aiding drug distribution and possession in a High Court lockup, with offences carrying severe penalties.
MARANG: A lawyer has been charged with three counts of aiding and abetting drug distribution and possession within a court lockup.
Che Muhammad Amir Syafiq Che Musa, 33, appeared at the Magistrate’s Court here to face the charges relating to an incident last month.
He is accused of aiding the distribution of 123 grammes of methamphetamine with another individual at the Kuala Terengganu High Court lockup.
The alleged offence occurred between 9 am and noon on Dec 23.
The charges are framed under Section 33 of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, read together with Sections 39B(1)(a) and 39B(2).
These sections carry the death penalty or life imprisonment, and if not sentenced to death, a minimum of 15 strokes of the cane.
The accused also faces two separate charges of aiding the possession of 21 grammes of cannabis and 13 grammes of nimetazepam.
These offences are alleged to have occurred at the same time and place as the methamphetamine distribution.
The cannabis possession charge is punishable under Section 39A(1) of the Act, carrying a jail term of two to five years and caning.
For the nimetazepam possession, he faces a fine of up to RM100,000 or imprisonment of up to five years.
No plea was recorded from the accused after the charges were read before Magistrate Nur Athirah Hashim.
Deputy Public Prosecutors Amer Abu Bakar Abdullah and Noradila Ab Latif prosecuted the case.
Lawyer Mohd Syaza Firdaus Rashid appeared for the accused during the proceedings.
The prosecution did not offer bail, as offences under Section 39B are non-bailable.
The court has fixed April 29 for the next hearing in the case.
