The charges against Yek Zhu Jie, 19; Tan Chee Seng, 21; How Jia Lerk, 24; Kenny Loo, 24; Ooi Zhi Wei, 27, and Chong Chew Nam, 32, and three women, namely Eva Chua Min, 19; Phang Jing Yi, 22, and Goh Yoong Cheng, 30, as well as two 17-year-old boys, were read before magistrate A Shaarmini.

No plea was recorded from all of them as the case falls under the jurisdiction of the High Court.

According to the charges, they were jointly charged with trafficking methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) weighing 18,881g, ketamine (558g) and nimetazepam (52g) at a house at Jalan Bukit Skudai 6, Taman Bukit Skudai here at 2am on Sept 23.

The charges, framed under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and punishable under Section 39B(2) of the same law, provide the death penalty or life imprisonment, and if not sentenced to death must be punished with not less than 15 strokes of the cane, upon conviction.

The court set Nov 2 for mention.

The prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutor Shamira Luthfi Ismail, while lawyers Muhammad Nasir, Freda Sabapathy and Chew Pong Him represented Chong, Eva and How respectively.

The other eight accused were not represented.