Bernama reported that Tan Ban Choon, 48, nodded to indicate he understood the charge when it was read out to him in Mandarin by the court interpreter before judge Khalid Ab Karim.

However, no plea was recorded as the case falls under the jurisdiction of the High Court.

Tan is charged with trafficking in 10,024gm of MDMA powder at a house in Danga Bay, Johor Bahru, around 10pm on April 23.

The charge is framed under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 for drug trafficking, punishable under Section 39B(2) of the same Act, which provides for the death penalty or 30 years’ imprisonment and a minimum of 15 strokes of the rotan upon conviction.

Tan also faces three additional charges of possessing heroin (9gm), ketamine (31.3gm) and MDMA (6gm).

For these offences, he faces two to five years in prison and between three and nine strokes of the rotan under the Dangerous Drugs Act if found guilty.

He also faces a separate charge of possessing 44gm of cannabis under Section 6 of the same Act and punishable under Section 39A(1), carrying the same penalties.

All the alleged offences were committed at the same location and time.

Deputy public prosecutor Siti Fatimah Mamu appeared for the prosecution while Tan was unrepresented. The court fixed July 29 for mention of the case.

Last month, police reported that five drug syndicates were dismantled through seven operations across four districts in Johor – Johor Bahru, Batu Pahat, Kluang and Kota Tinggi, with drugs worth nearly RM9 million seized.

State police chief M Kumar said five men, including a Singaporean, were arrested in the raids.