BY Fadley Faisal

The case involving a family drug syndicate dubbed ‘Musang King’ was in court on Thursday with new developments.

Senior Magistrate Pengiran Masni binti Pengiran Haji Bahar fixed the case to undergo preliminary inquiry in December.

Defence counsels Roy Prabhakaran and Pengiran Muhammad Khairul Nizam bin Pengiran Haji Mohd Yassin have discharged themselves from representing their clients.

However, defence counsel Daud Ismail maintained his position in representing Isamuddin bin Ahmad.

The defendants – Ahmad bin Haji Tamit and his wife Maskunah binti Wahab, their children Isamuddin, Mohammad Saifuddin and Siti Izzatul Munirah and her husband Jakaria bin Ahad – are charged with two offences under Chapter 27, Section 3A of the Misuse of Drugs Act carrying the death penalty.

The defendants alleged have in possession 18.9943 kilogrammes of methylamphetamine for trafficking. The drugs were found in the vicinity of a Jalan Junjongan house. Allegations include them having in possession 532.44 grammes of methylamphetamine in bottles.

The defendants live in houses in the area.

Isamuddin also faces one charge of having in possession 54.1 grammes of methylamphetamine inside a black plastic bag in the vicinity of a house at Jalan Junjongan.

The offence carries between 20 and 30 years’ imprisonment with mandatory whipping of 15 strokes.

Siti Izzatul Munirah and Jakaria are also charged for possessing proceeds of crime under Section 3 of the Criminal Asset Recovery Order 2012 amounting to BND80,000 to over BND100,000.

They are also charged with concealing the ownership of a vehicle by registering it under a third party’s name.

Siti Izzatul Munirah also faces a charge of possessing over 50 gold jewellery items which are allegedly proceeds of crime.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Hajah Suriana binti Haji Radin leads the prosecution team in the case.

-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin