Diplomat and son denied bail on drug charges

 

Zainal Abidin Alias and his son Mohamed Rizal are accused of trafficking in ganja and planting ganja trees in Janda Baik, Bentong. (Bernama pic)

TEMERLOH: The High Court has dismissed applications by a former diplomat and his son to be released on bail pending trial on three drug charges, including allegedly planting ganja trees in May this year.

Judicial commissioner Roslan Mat Noor, said the charges were non-bailable offences.

Zainal Abidin Alias, 78, and his son Mohamed Rizal, 53, are charged under the Dangerous Drugs Act.

Their lawyer, Shafee Abdullah, argued that a section of the law encroached into the powers and discretion of the judiciary on bail matters.Shafee told reporters later that he had advised his clients to file an appeal on the decision.

Zainal Abidin, former Malaysian ambassador to Indonesia, and Mohamed Rizal were charged in Bentong with trafficking in ganja and possessing cannabis oil at Kampung Sum-Sum Hilir, in Janda Baik, Bentong on May 21.

Five days later, at the Raub sessions court, both father and son pleaded not guilty to planting 102 ganja trees at the same place and date. - FMT