SUNGAI GOLOK: Six Malaysians including a popular dikir barat singer arrested by Thai police for possession of 6,000 yaba pills last week, have been remanded.
They were brought to the Narathiwat Provincial Court this morning.
The group left Sungai Golok police station around 10.30am (Thai time) in a police truck, escorted by around 50 family members and friends who had waited at the station since 9am.
Crowds gathered outside the court in Narathiwat, about 50km away, including fans of the singer from both Malaysia and Thailand.
Sungai Golok police chief Col. Pol Jedsadavit Ingprapan said the six were sent to court to allow police to obtain further detention orders.
"They will remain in court custody as we complete our investigation," he said, adding that the group faces charges of drug possession and entering Thailand without proper documentation.
The six were arrested Friday morning at a hotel in Sungai Golok. They reportedly crossed the border for leisure during the Deepavali holidays.
Yaba pills, commonly known as "pil kuda" in Malaysia are a type of methamphetamine.