Kuala lumpur: A mechanic who is an Indonesian, was charged in the Magistrate's Court here today with trafficking 74.87 kilograms (kg) of Methamphetamine, last week.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Sopian Mustafa, 40, merely nodded to signal he understood after the charge was read out before Magistrate Don Stiwin Malanjum, and no plea was recorded as the case falls under the jurisdiction of the High Court. The accused was charged with trafficking the drugs at the parking area of a building in Jalan Tun Hamdan, Tawau, at 10:30 pm on July 12, under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, punishable under Section 39B(2) of the same Act and read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code.

If convicted, the charge carries the death penalty or life imprisonment, along with a minimum of 12 strokes of the cane if the death penalty is not imposed. The court denied bail to the accused and fixed August 20 for mention of the case.

The prosecution was conducted by Prosecuting Officer ASP Nur Intan Jamrin, while the accused was represented by lawyer Prem Elmer Ganasan.