KOTA KINABALU: An unemployed man claimed trial at the High Court here on two counts of trafficking 32.8kg syabu last year.
Yap Kai, 38, pleaded not guilty before judge Leonard David Shim.
On the first count, Yap was accused of trafficking 1,279.93g of syabu on July 28, 2022 between 12.12 noon and 1pm in a house, Lorong Manikar 2A, Taman Manikar here.
On the second count, he allegedly trafficked 31,562.3g of syabu at the same time and place.
Both charges were framed under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries a punishment of either the death penalty or life in prison and whipping with a minimum of 15 strokes.
The court fixed April 17 for case management. The accused will be further remanded pending the disposal of the case as the offence is non-bailable.
Yap was represented by counsel Ram Singh, Kimberly Ye Wanchuin and Chen Wen Jye. Customs deputy public prosecutor Nurul Akhilah Rosmi prosecuted.
It was reported in August last year that the Sabah Customs seized the syabu worth RM1.8 million which, according to its director-general Datuk Zazuli Johan was the largest seizure so far in 2022.