SUNGAI PETANI: Seven policemen from three district police headquarters in Kedah arrested during a raid at a nightclub in Aman Square here early last month, claimed trial today to charges of drug use.
All the accused, aged between 28 and 55, pleaded not guilty when they were charged separately in two magistrates' courts here.
The policemen are attached to the Pendang, Yan and Kuala Muda district police headquarters respectively.
In magistrate's court 2, Sergeant Mohd Khairi Zakaria, 55, Corporal Wan Muneer Abdullah, 36, and Mohd Fazly Long, 45, claimed trial to a charge of illegally administrating ketamine into their respective bodies.
They entered the plea when the charge was read before magistrate M. Kalaiarasi.
They were alleged to have committed the offence between 4.20am and 7am on Oct 2, in a ground floor room of premises 23A, Jalan 3, Aman Square here.
In the same court, Corporal Mohammad Muizzuddin Mohamad Taib, 29, claimed trial to a charge of illegally administrating ketamine and methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) into his body.
He is alleged to have committed the offence at the same time and place.
The charge was framed under Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries a sentence of a fine of up to RM5,000 or imprisonment of a maximum of two years, or both, upon conviction.
Deputy Public Prosecutor S. Preeya appeared for the prosecution while the accused were represented by their respective counsels.
The court fixed bail at RM2,000 for each accused with one surety and set Dec 3 and 4 for mention.
Meanwhile, in magistrate's Court 3, three other policemen, Corporal Muhammad Azri Zakariya, 35, Lance Corporal G. Selva Kumar, 36, and Lance Corporal T.S Sarvindran, 28, claimed trial on a similar charge.
They are alleged to have committed the offence between 6.38am and 7.18am on Oct 2 in a ground floor room at premises 23A, Jalan 3, Aman Square here.
All the accused entered the plea when the charge was read separately before magistrate Khairatul Animah Jelani.
In the same court, policeman Francis Nawan Johny, 35, claimed trial to a charge of illegally administrating ketamine and amphetamine into his body.
He is alleged to have committed the offence at about 12.25am on Oct 2 at the Kuala Muda district police headquarters' Narcotic Investigation Division.
The charge was also framed under Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nur Hazwani Md Noor appeared for the prosecution while the accused were represented by their respective counsels.
The court fixed bail at RM2,000 for each accused with one surety and set between Dec 3 and 12 for mention.
On Oct 3, it was reported that 12 policemen, including two senior officials, were detained after testing positive for drugs during a raid by the Bukit Aman Integrity and Standards Compliance Department (JIPS) at a nightclub in Aman Square.
Following the incident, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain had instructed Kedah police to immediately suspend all the policemen involved.