KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 (Bernama) -- The case of an Aussie man who faces
the death penalty for allegedly trafficking in 167.8 grammes of drugs was today
transferred to the High Court.
Magistrate Erry Shahriman Nor Aripin made the order after granting the
prosecution''s application for the case to be transferred.
Dominic Jude Bird,(rpt: Dominic Jude Bird), 32, was charged with trafficking
methaphetamine at Old Town White Coffee, at Jalan Yap Kwan Seng, here on 4.15pm
on March 1.
He was charged under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 which
carries the mandatory death sentence, if convicted.
No plea was recorded after the charge was read out to him.
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COURT-DRUG 2 (LAST) KUALA LUMPUR
Bird''s counsel Datuk Seri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah complained to the court
that the defence counsel were not informed as to when the accused would be
charged.
The accused was first brought to the court on March 9.
Muhammad Shafee said all four defence counsel including him were present
during the remand
process, but the police did not allow them to see their client which he
claimed breached Article 5 of the Federal Constitution.
He said the Australian High Commission was also not informed on the matters.
Bird also faces a second charge of consuming methaphetamine at the Narcotics
Investigaation Department''s office a the Dang Wangi police station here at
12.10am the same day.
For this, he was charged under Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act
1952, which is punishable by up to three years imprisonment.
Prosecuting Officer C/Insp Muhammad Sapri Yaakub appeared for the
prosecution.
-- BERNAMA
SYJ SSA NAK HA
