Two Singaporeans face the death penalty in Johor for drug trafficking

JOHOR BARU, June 12 – Two Singapore men were charged in the local Magistrates Court today with trafficking 58.6kg worth of illegal drugs last month and face the death penalty if convicted.

Tan Xiao Wei, 49, and Ee Chong Kiat, 36, were charged with trafficking the ecstasy drug MDMA with a total weight of 58,625 grams at Jalan Anjung 8/1, Taman Horizon Hills, Iskandar Puteri at 10.30pm on May 29.

The charge was brought under section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which provides for punishment under section 39B(2) of the same Act, and was read with section 34 of the Penal Code, which provides for the death penalty or imprisonment for life or, failing that, a minimum of 15 strokes of the cane.

Both defendants nodded their heads to show that they understood the charges read out in Mandarin by the court interpreter.

However, no plea was entered by either defendant before Judge R. Salini.

Tan was also charged with six counts of trafficking and possession of drugs weighing 13.82 kg.

In the first four counts, he was accused of distributing 13,145 grams of MDMA and methamphetamine.

He was also charged with two counts of possession of 680 grams of ketamine and nimetazepam.

The offences were allegedly committed at 6.35pm on May 29 at a residential complex at Jalan Mutiara 7, Taman Perindustrian Plentong.

Ee is also charged with two other counts: trafficking MDMA with an estimated weight of 74 grams and possession of 26.4 grams of ketamine at a flat near Persiaran Bumi Hijau, Taman Molek, here at 3.40pm on May 29.

The duo were also charged with drug possession under Section 12(2) of the same Act, which, if convicted, carries a fine of up to RM100,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years, or both.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Nur Ameerah Allaudeen did not offer bail to the accused as the charge violated Section 39B DDA 1952.

Both defendants were represented by lawyer Nur Afiqah Hambali.

The case is scheduled to be mentioned on August 14, pending a chemicals report.