THREE friends were jointly charged in the Ipoh magistrates’ court today with trafficking more than 26kg of drugs into the country.

However, no plea was recorded from the three accused – M. Thinesh, 21, M. Viknewaran, 25, and M. Thinesh Kumar, 26 – after the charge was read out before magistrate S. Punitha.

They were jointly charged with trafficking in 26,178g of ketamine by the roadside at the Petron petrol station, Jalan Gopeng, Kampung Gunung Rapat, Ipoh at 9.15pm on September 20.

The charge, framed under section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and read together with section 34 of the penal code, provides the death sentence or life imprisonment, and if not sentenced to death, can be punished with not less than 12 strokes of the cane, upon conviction.

The three men, represented by lawyer R. R. Segaran, were not allowed bail and the court set December 26 for mention.

Deputy public prosecutor Nurul Hidayu Zakaria prosecuted. – Bernama, September 29, 2023.