Kota bharu: A salon and restaurant owner, her husband, and three others were charged in the Magistrate’s Court with drug trafficking involving 20 kilograms of methamphetamine.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, no plea was recorded from the businesswoman, Nur Ayu Fatihah Zaudi, 34, her husband Mohd Faizal Ismail, 35, and the three others, namely Mohamad Farid Ismail, 33, Mohd Khairu Azani Mohd Lawi, 39, and Mohamad Asmawi Janudin, 25, as the case falls under the jurisdiction of the High Court. The charges were presented before Magistrate Syed Farid Syed Ali.

On the first charge, Mohd Faizal is accused of trafficking 115 grams of methamphetamine in a Perodua Axia car at a three-way intersection of Jalan Gajah Mati, Kampung Banggol Chicha, at 11.15 am on June 27. Additionally, he is jointly charged with Nur Ayu Fatihah for trafficking 112 grams of methamphetamine at a house in Kampung Banggol Chicha at 11.30 am the same day.

The couple, along with the three other accused, face charges of trafficking 19,866 grams of the drug at a cow shed behind a house in Kampung Banggol Chicha at 4.30 pm on the same day. They were charged under Section 39B (1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which stipulates life imprisonment or the death penalty, and if not sentenced to death, a maximum of 15 strokes of the cane upon conviction.

The prosecution was led by Deputy Public Prosecutor Syazalia Che Suhaimi. Mohd Faizal and Nur Ayu Fatihah were represented by lawyer Mohd Norazihan Adnan, while the other three accused did not have legal representation. The court has set October 26 for mention and the submission of the chemical report.