A taxi driver pleaded not guilty at the High Court here on Friday to a charge of trafficking 748.59 grammes of cannabis last year.
Mohd Faris Ali, 55, entered the plea after the charge was read before Judge Datuk Aslam Zainuddin.
According to the charge sheet, the accused was allegedly found trafficking the drug at Jalan 3/149J, Bandar Baru Seri Petaling, at about 5pm on January 23, 2025.
The charge was framed under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and is punishable under Section 39B(2) of the same Act, which carries the death penalty or life imprisonment upon conviction.
If the death penalty is not imposed, the offender is also liable to receive no fewer than 12 strokes of the cane.
The prosecution was led by Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohamad Shahrizzat Amadan, while the accused appeared in court without legal representation.
The court fixed July 20 for case mention to allow for the appointment of defence counsel.
The case highlights the seriousness of drug trafficking offences in Malaysia, where authorities continue to intensify enforcement efforts against narcotics-related crimes.
Investigations and court proceedings will continue as the case moves through the judicial process.
