Jamal Mirdad Khairrudin, 41 (in green T-shirt) was charged in having possession of ketum in Ipoh magistrate court.
IPOH: A 41-year-old hairdresser has been charged at a Magistrate's Court here with possessing ketum liquid.
Jamal Mirdad Khairrudin nodded when the charge was read before Magistrate S. Punitha on Wednesday (Nov 27).
However, no plea was recorded from the accused.
According to the charge sheet, he is said to have possessed approximately 900 litres of mitragynine (ketum) liquid, listed in the first and third schedule (psychotropic substance) of the Poisons Act 1952.
He was accused of committing the act at No. 63 Laluan Pakatan Jaya 4, Pakatan Jaya here at 10am on Friday (Nov 22).
The charge framed under Section 30 (3) of the Act is punishable with a fine not exceeding RM100,000, or jail of up to five years, or both upon conviction.
DPP Vatchira Wong Rui Fern prosecuted, while Norizawani Ahmad Jalaludin from the National Legal Aid Foundation represented the accused.
The DPP requested for bail to be set at RM7,000, but Norizawani asked for a lower amount.
Punitha then set bail at RM3,500 and fixed Feb 5 for case mention and the submission of the chemist's report.
On Saturday (Nov 23), Ipoh OCPD Asst Comm Abang Zainal Abidin Abang Ahmad said six people aged 24 to 42 were arrested in a house at 12.10am on Friday.
He said police also seized about RM41,000 worth of ketum leaves and drinks during the raid at Taman Pakatan Jaya.
