However, no plea was taken from Yasin, 47, after the charge was read out to him today before magistrate Zhafran Rahim Hamzah.
The case will be transferred to the High Court as the sentence provides for the death penalty.
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Yasin was charged under Section 39B (1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, punishable under Section 39B (2) of the same Act, with either the death penalty or life imprisonment, and up to 15 strokes of the rotan, upon conviction.
The singer of the hit song “Mimpi Laila” was accused of trafficking cannabis weighing about 214gm.
The offence was allegedly committed at his condominium in Kota Damansara, where he was arrested on March 24.
Earlier, Yasin pleaded not guilty before sessions court judge Norshila Kamaruddin to a separate charge of cultivating 17 plants believed to be cannabis at the same place, time and date.
He was charged under Section 6B (1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which provides for life imprisonment and not less than six strokes of the rotan upon conviction.
The court did not allow Yasin bail for both charges and set May 18 for re-mention.
The court also ordered Yasin to be given appropriate treatment by a medical officer while in custody.
The prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutors Mohammad Al-Saifi Hashim and Asnawi Abu Hanipah while Yasin was represented by lawyer Yusmadi Yusoff.
Yusmadi urged the court to grant Yasin bail as he only cultivated cannabis for medicinal purposes.
“My client has bipolar disorder and needs treatment,” he told members of the media who had gathered outside the courtroom.
When brought to court earlier, Yasin said he was in poor health.
“My health is very bad, and I’m worried I could ‘crack’ at any time,” he told reporters.
Yasin also conveyed a message to Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, who has been pushing Putrajaya to look into approving hemp and medical marijuana farming due to its economic and health benefits.
“Greetings to YB Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman. Please ask (the government) to allow the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes,” he said.
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