RAUB: Five days after being charged with drug trafficking, a former diplomat and his son were charged again at the Sessions Court here with planting 102 ganja (cannabis) plants. Both pleaded not guilty.

       Datuk Zainal Abidin Alias, 78, and Mohamed Rizal, 53, were charged with committing the offence at a house in Kampung Sum-Sum Hilir, Janda Baik, Bentong, at 6.10pm on May 21, Bernama reported.

       Another day in court: Zainal Abidin and his son Mohamed Rizal at the Sessions Court in Raub. — Bernama

       The charge, under Section 6B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code, provides for life imprisonment and whipping not less than six strokes.

       The former diplomat, who was carrying a Persian literature book titled The Speech of the Birds and some coronary angina medicine, and his son were sent to prison as the prosecution did not offer bail.

       Pahang prosecution director Mohammad Khalid Ab Karim along with deputy public prosecutors Hayda Faridzal Abu Hassan and Anisah Pisol appeared for the prosecution while the accused were represented by lawyer Rahmat Hazlan.

       Rahmat said they had sent a representation to the Attorney General’s Chambers on June 2, asking for bail.

       Judge Ahmad Faizadh Yahaya fixed July 22 for mention.

       On Friday, the father and son were charged at the Magistrate’s Court in Bentong for trafficking ganja and possessing cannabis oil.

       Mohamed Rizal also faced a third charge for allegedly misusing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) at the narcotics office of the Bentong district police headquarters at 8.40pm on May 23.