BUKIT MERTAJAM – DAP’s embattled Pasir Bedamar assemblyman Terence Naidu has pleaded not guilty to drug abuse at the magistrates’ court here today.
Naidu, 53, claimed trial after being read the charge in front of magistrate Nurul Rasyidah Mohd Akit.
She allowed a RM4,000 bail with one surety and fixed May 17 for case management.
He was accused of committing the offence at the Seberang Prai Tengah police headquarters at about 12.13am on January 14.
He initially tested positive for methamphetamine and was charged under Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952. If found guilty, he faces a fine of not more than RM5,000 or a jail term of not more than two years.
Deputy public prosecutor Khairul Anuar Abdul Halim initially proposed a RM5,000 bail.
In mitigation, defence lawyer Ramkarpal Singh said the court should offer a lower bail, as Naidu cooperated with police from the day of his arrest.
He also urged the magistrate to consider that Naidu is a lawyer and an assemblyman, who is serving his constituents as well as not being a flight risk.
Defence lawyer RSN Rayer also asked the court to instruct the police to not handcuff Naidu once bail was allowed, and appealed to the court to not place Naidu in the court cell.
Rayer said the court should consider the request, since Naidu has been reporting to the police here monthly as per conditions of his police bail granted to him earlier this year.
During a press conference outside the court, Ramkarpal said Naidu stands a good chance in his case, mainly because his client went on to get lab reports that proved that he was negative for drug use.
“This would be a good opportunity for him to clear his name,” said Ramkarpal.
During a press conference outside the court, defence lawyer @ramkarpal said embattled Pasir Bedamar assemblyman @NaiduTerence stands a good chance in his case, mainly because his client went on to get lab reports that proved that he was negative for drug use. pic.twitter.com/25go5Wgng7
— TheVibes.com (@thevibesnews) April 20, 2022
On January 19, the DAP legal bureau revealed that Naidu tested negative for his second urine test conducted at a private clinic in Penang.
The test was conducted at an O2 clinic after police alleged that the Perak DAP leader had tested positive for four types of narcotics after they had conducted a raid at a karaoke joint near a mall in Prai.
After he was released by police on January 14, Naidu went to the private clinic the next day to undergo another urine test. The results, which came back today, were negative for any form of drugs, DAP legal bureau chairman Ramkarpal Singh Deo said in a statement.
“Naidu went to the private clinic after he was unhappy with the results of the first test as police claimed that he had tested positive. Police refused to allow for a second urine test to be conducted on him,” Ramkarpal said. – The Vibes, April 20, 2022
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