Indian national faces death if convicted of trafficking ketamine

An Indian national is liable to the mandatory death sentence if found guilty of trafficking in 1,982.2 grammes of ketamine last year.

Electrician Syed Abu Thagir Syed Abu Bakkar, 28, claimed trial before High Court judge Datuk Abdul Rahman Sebli when his charge was read and explained in Tamil language by court interpreter from Seremban Poong Ody Suppiah yesterday.

Abdul Rahman set Jan 9 to 13, next year for the trial of Syed Abu Thagir who is charged under Section 39B (1) (a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.

The accused allegedly trafficked the drug at a special passenger’s examination unit at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport here about 12.30pm on Dec 30, 2010.

Deputy public prosecutor Nor Ariffin Hisham from the Customs Department, Putrajaya, will be calling 10 witnesses during the trial.

Syed Abu Thagir, who is represented  by assigned counsel Ram Singh, was ordered to be remanded in prison under Section 259 of the Criminal Procedure Code pending the disposal of the case as the alleged offence is non bailable.