Six, Including Dikir Barat Singer, Charged In Thai Court For Drug Offences

NARATHIWAT, Jan 14 (Bernama) – A female Dikir Barat singer, her husband and four others faced charges for drug use and possession of 6,059 Yaba pills at the Narathiwat Court today.

Wan Norsahidah Azlin Wan Ismail, 30, along with her husband Mohd Affendi Ahmad, 35, Eridieka Mohd Noor, Mohamad Alif Deraman and Nur Aida Mamat, all aged 33, as well as Zuhaira Nasrin, 26, admitted to the charge of self-administering drugs in Sungai Golok.

However, all of them pleaded not guilty to the charge of possessing the Yaba pills after the charges were read by the court's interpreter before Judge Yuan Khao Kham.

Judge Yuan also instructed the defendants to present strong evidence to prove their innocence regarding the possession of drugs before the trial proceeds.

In addition, Eridieka and Zuhaira plead guilt to two additional charges for entering Thailand illegally without travel documents or passports.

The court has scheduled hearings for Feb 11, 12 and 14, with the sentencing expected in early March.

The six individuals were arrested during a raid at a hotel in Golok on Nov 1, where they were alleged to be in possession of 6,000 ecstasy pills.

The defendants are represented by three appointed Thai lawyers.

-- BERNAMA