Teen girl among three facing drug charges

Three foreigners, including a 17-year-old girl, were charged separately at the Magistrates Court here Friday with trafficking methamphetamine at the Penang International Airport two weeks ago.

No pleas were recorded from the accused, Derrick Randell, 63, from Africa, Indian national B. Sangeeta Sharma, 38, and the girl who was from Malawi.

Derrick and the teenager were accused of trafficking in 4.4kg and 4.3kg of methamphetamine at the airport's arrival hall on Oct 5 while Sangeeta allegedly trafficked 3.1kg of the same drug at the same location at 1am on Oct 7.

All three were charged under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 which carries the mandatory death sentence.

Deputy public prosecutor Charanjit Singh Mahinder Singh and prosecuting officer Muhd Ridhauddin Jamaluddin conducted the prosecution while the accused were unrepresented.

Magistrate Muhamad Najib Ismail set Dec 17 for re-mention.