Dikir barat singer and five others remanded in Thailand for drug possession

NARATHIWAT - Six Malaysians, including a dikir barat singer from Kelantan, who were detained last Friday for drug possession, appeared in the Narathiwat Court today for a remand application.

The suspects, aged between 25 and 34, were transferred from the Sungai Golok Police Station lockup to the court around 10:30 am. They were subsequently moved to Narathiwat Prison after the remand application process concluded this afternoon.

Earlier, more than 50 members of the public, reported to be family and friends of the suspects, arrived at the court as early as 8 am local time.

Meanwhile, the Sungai Golok District Police Chief, Col. Pol. Jedsadavit Ingprapan, stated that in addition to drug possession, the suspects are also being investigated for entering Thailand without valid documents.

It is understood that all suspects will be held in Narathiwat Prison for 84 days or three months while awaiting the prosecution date.

During this detention period, the families of the suspects may apply for bail, although approval is subject to the court's decision after the appointment of a lawyer to represent the suspects.

All six suspects were arrested during a raid by the Narcotics Division of the Sungai Golok Police at a hotel near the Golok River at 5 a.m. for drug possession.

Police investigations revealed that the suspects were in possession of 6,000 pills of the type known as 'horse pills' and had entered Thailand without valid documents. - BERNAMA