KANGAR: A jobless man was charged in two separate courts here today with drug trafficking in Arau earlier this month.
Muhamad Asraf Arif, 40, was charged at the magistrate's court with trafficking 37.05g of heroin in a room at a rest house in Lorong Seri 1, Jalan Jejawi Sena.
He was charged with committing the offence at 10.30pm on June 8.
The charge was framed under Section 38B(1) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, punishable under Section 39B(2) of the same Act, which carries the death penalty, life imprisonment, and no less than 15 strokes of whipping.
The accused nodded to indicate that he understood the charge when it was read to him by the court interpreter before Magistrate Ana Rozana Mohd Nor.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nurul Atikah Ab Rashid prosecuted, while the accused was not represented.
Later, in the Sessions Court, the accused faced another charge of trafficking methamphetamine at the same location and time.
The accused only nodded when the charge was read by the court interpreter before Judge Musyiri Peet.
According to the charge sheet, Asraf was caught possessing 37.03g of methamphetamine.
The charge was framed under Section 12(2) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which is punishable under Section 39A (2) of the same Act.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Alia Suzila Chek Pi prosecuted while the accused was not represented.
No bail was offered to the accused as both charges are non-bailable offences.
Both courts fixed Aug 15 as a mention.
On June 8, Asraf was among the three individuals arrested by the police for kidnapping a 36-year-old Thai woman and her 18-year-old boyfriend from Gunung Keriang, Kedah.
Police had rescued the victims after raiding the rest house in Arau and arrested the suspects. It was reported that during the raid, police had seized heroin and methamphetamine.