BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

TWO men facing a drug importation charge were released on bail yesterday, pending the chemist’s report.

The defendants, Mohd Aizamri Nasri and Shah Rony @ Mohammad Zieyad Abdul Rahman, were accused of trafficking over 200 grams of methamphetamine, an offence which carries the death penalty.

The defendants have been remanded in custody since their arrest on October 11, 2014, and have yet to enter their plea on the joint charge.

The case was brought to court by deputy public prosecutor Farhanah Pehin Dato Hj Suhaili.

During the proceedings yesterday, Chief Magistrate Muhammed Faisal PDJLD DSP Hj Kefli allowed their release after Shah Rony’s defence counsel, Ahmad Zakaria Muhammad, argued that the defendants’ remand “were an abuse of judicial process, and caused undue hardship on them as there was no assurance when the analyst’s certificate will be available”.

Both men were released on a $10,000 cash bail and $20,000 in two local sureties.

The Brunei Times