JOHOR BAHRU: Vocalist of the Malaysian band Exists, Mamat, whose real name is Mohd Ali Kamarudin, 46, was charged in the Johor Bahru Sessions Court and magistrate's Court for two counts of possession and consumption of drugs in 2019.
However, Mamat pleaded not guilty before Judge Fatimah Zahari and Magistrate Hidayatul Syuhada Shamsudin immediately after the charges were read against him.
According to the first charge sheet, the singer of the song 'Untukmu Ibu' was accused of consuming Methamphetamine drugs at around 2am on Sep 9, 2019, at the Johor Bahru Utara district police headquarters Narcotics Crime Investigation Department.
Mamat also has a history of drug consumption between 2016 and 2018.
The charges is framed under Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and carries a penalty under Section 39C(1)(b) of the same act.
Deputy public prosecutor Bariah Jalil prosecuted while Mamat was represented by defence counsel Azlina Abdul Aziz.
For the second charge, Mamat was accused of possessing 0.17 grams of Methamphetamine drugs at 11.35pm in Taman Perling on Sep 8, 2019.
The second charge is under Section 12(2) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and carries a penalty under Section 12(3) of the same act.
The prosecution was conducted by Deputy public prosecutor Nur Aqillah Ahmad Rofaei, with Mamat represented by the same defence counsel.
Earlier, in the Sessions Court, the defence counsel requested that his client be referred for psychiatric treatment at Hospital Permai under Section 342 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
Fatimah then granted the request and set Feb 22 as the next date for mention of the case, including the medical report.