Malaysian Kong Sien Mee, 57, and the three Singaporeans – Quek Kien Seng, 45; Tristan Chew, 25; and Ivan Tan, 31 – nodded when the charge was read to them before magistrate Amalina Basirah Top.

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

The four men were jointly charged under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 with trafficking 9,420.2ml of cocaine at the exit of a hotel here at 11.45am on June 19.

They face the death sentence or life imprisonment, and if not sentenced to death, a minimum of 12 strokes of the cane, upon conviction.

The court set Sept 8 for mention and the submission of the chemist’s report.

The prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutor M Ramanathan Alias Ashwin while the three Singaporeans were represented by lawyer Ille Maryam Yusnawannie. Kong was unrepresented.