KOTA KINABALU: A private school teacher pleaded not guilty to a drug trafficking charge involving 959.5 grams of syabu at the High Court here yesterday.
Suhailah Abdullah, 41, made the plea before Justice Ravinthran Paramaguru who fixed August 25–29, this year for trial and June 30, for pre-trial case management.
Suhailah, a West Malaysian, is accused of having trafficked the drugs at 11.15am, May 25, 2013, at the arrival hall of Terminal 1 of the Kota Kinabalu International Airport.
The offence under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 carries the mandatory death sentence upon conviction.
Deputy public prosecutor Luke Ressa Balang, standing in for Nazir Amir Johari, of the Customs Department, informed the court that the prosecution would be calling about 12 witnesses.
The accused is defended by counsel Rakhbir Singh.
Meanwhile, magistrate Herlina Muse sentenced Al Hajim, 31, and Azlanshah Basir, 23, to four months’ jail each after they pleaded guilty to consuming syabu.
Both the accused had committed the offence on March 13, at Kampung Lokub, Sepanggar.
The charge, under Section 15 (1) (a) of the same Act, carries a maximum fine of RM5,000 or up to two years’ imprisonment, on conviction.
The court also ordered for both accused, who have no documents, to be referred to the Immigration Department after serving their sentences.