A couple were charged in the Magistrate’s Court in Jitra today with trafficking in 247 kilogrammes of cannabis early this month.

The two accused, Abdul Rahman Mohd Zain, 55, and his Thai wife, Sophaporn Saengsiri, 44, allegedly committed the offence on March 5 at Jalan Teja 8/1, Taman Teja Changlun, Kubang Pasu.

The charge was read out in Malay to Abdul Rahman and in Thai to Sophaporn before Magistrate Mohd Khairul Hafizzuddin Ramli, with the couple nodding to indicate they understood the charge, but no pleas were recorded from the accused.

The offence under Section 39B (1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and punishable under Section 39B (2) of the same Act which carries the mandatory death sentence, was read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code.

DPP Savinder Singh appeared for the prosecution, while the accused were represented by lawyer Shamsher Singh.

The court set June 5 for case mention while awaiting the report from the Chemistry Department.

- Bernama