BATU PAHAT: Five friends are facing the gallows after they were charged at the magistrate's court here today with three counts of drug trafficking and possession.
Muhammad Nazray Juahir, 35, Shahrullnizam Abd Rahim, 43, Mohd Rafee Samsuni, 49, Salim Sayuti, 58, and Muhammad Khairul Azuan Yusof, 31, nodded their heads when the charges were read to them by the court interpreter before Magistrate Suhaila Shafi'uddin.
No plea was recorded as the case falls under the jurisdiction of the High Court.
According to the first charge, the five were jointly accused of trafficking heroin weighing 18.77g at a house in Kampung Parit Bengkok, Mukim Bagan, here, at 4am on July 22.
For the second charge, they were accused of distributing methamphetamine, weighing 65.07g, at the same date, time, and location.
They were charged with committing the offence under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code, which carries the death penalty.
As for the third charge, the five accused pleaded not guilty to possessing nimetazepam.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Sharifah Natasha Syed Ahmad prosecuted, while all the accused were unrepresented.
The court later set Dec 9 to hear the prosecution's application to transfer the case to the High Court.