Court sets Jan 29, 31 to hear case of women charged with drug trafficking

MIRI: The Sessions Court here fixed Jan 29 and 31 for the trial of two women, one of whom is a kindergarten teacher, accused of trafficking drug.

The two women are, meanwhile, ordered to be detained at Miri Central Prison pending trial.

Judge Steve Ritikos fixed the date after accessing applications made by both the prosecutor and counsels for the accused

Earlier, defence counsel Ranbir Singh, who represented the first accused, and Gurvir Singh Sandhu, who represented the second accused both applied for their respective clients to be discharged and acquitted as the prosecution had failed to submit the relevant documents, including the witness statements, to the defence counsels within 14 days before the trial started.

Only two witnesses’ statements were submitted by the prosecutor to Ranbir yesterday, while no document was handed over to Gurvir.

However, DPP Aftal Mariz objected to the application and requested for a new date to enable him to prepare the remaining three witnesses’ statements before they are handed over to the counsels for the accused.

The court allowed the application and ordered the witnesses’ statements to be submitted to the counsels on Jan 25.

Lily Kunyang, 35, from Lorong Intan 6, Vista Perdana and Freska Musa, 33, from Jalan Camar, Lutong Baru are charged under Section 12 ( 2) of the Dangerous Drugs Act, 1952, punishable under Section 39A ( 2) of the same Act, and Section 34 of the Penal Code.

They could be jailed for life or for a period not less than five years, and 10 strokes of the cane upon conviction.

Based on the amended charge, they allegedly possess Methamphetamine weighing 40.95g (net weight).

They allegedly committed the offence at 1pm on Feb 13, 2017 at the parking lot behind My Dobi Coin Laundry in Permyjaya.