KOTA KINABALU: A man, who was recently nabbed over RM1.8 million worth of drugs, was charged at the magistrate's court here with two counts of drug trafficking of more than 52 kilogramme of syabu.
On the first count, Yap Kai, 37, was accused of trafficking 1,926 grams of syabu on July 28, between 12.12pm and 1pm, at a house in Taman Manikar here.
On the second count, he was allegedly trafficking in 50,437 grams of syabu on the same day and at the same place between 1pm and 2pm.
However, no plea was taken from the accused, who appeared before Magistrate Lovely Natasha Charles.
The charge, under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, carries a punishment of either the death penalty or life imprisonment and whipping with a minimum of 15 strokes.
The prosecution applied for a new mention date while waiting for the chemist's report and objected to bail for the accused as the charge had no provision for bail.
The magistrate fixed Sept 12 for mention and ordered the accused to be further remanded.
Deputy public prosecutor Nurul Shafeerah Mad Iskim prosecuted while the accused was unrepresented.
On Aug 3, it was reported that the Customs Department confiscated more than 52kg of drugs with an estimated value of RM1,888,668 - the largest seizure so far this year.
Its director-general Datuk Zazuli Johan said the drugs were packed into tea packs and stored in kitchen appliances.
The raid, which led to the accused arrest, was conducted at the residential house after a two-month surveillance following a tip-off.