WA man faces death penalty in Malaysiahttp://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/8471065/wa-man-faces-death-penalty-in-malaysia
A West Australian man is facing the death penalty in Malaysia after being officially charged with drug trafficking.
During a court appearance in Kuala Lumpur on Monday, Perth man Dominic Jude Christopher Bird, 32, was charged with one count of drug trafficking and one count of drug use, after Malaysian prosecutors said the substance he was arrested with contained 167 grams of methamphetamine.
Bird had previously been "provisionally" charged under Section 39B of Malaysia's Dangerous Drugs Act, which carries a mandatory death penalty for the quantity of drug he is alleged to have possessed.
Bird was arrested by undercover officers on March 1 at a Kuala Lumpur coffee shop where, police allege, he was trying to sell them 228g of drugs.
A chemist's report tendered during Monday's court hearing in Kuala Lumpur confirmed the drug was about 73 per cent pure methamphetamine.
Under Malaysian law, a person convicted of possessing more than 50g of methamphetamine is declared a drug trafficker and faces a mandatory death sentence.
Bird's case will now be transferred to the Malaysian High Court, where he is expected to reappear in November.
Malaysian-based Australian lawyer Tania Scivetti, who is representing Bird, said the next court date had not been set, and her client had been remanded in custody.
She said Bird was in good spirits, despite the serious nature of his charges.
"It's tough, but he's doing all right," Ms Scivetti told AAP.
Ms Scivetti was unsure of the fate of two local men and a Filipino woman who were arrested at Bird's apartment during a search following his initial arrest.
Bird had previously complained of being assaulted in custody, a matter that was raised at his last court appearance on March 9.
Malaysian police denied Bird had been assaulted when contacted by AAP at that time.
Bird's father, Clayton, flew from Perth to see his son shortly after his arrest.
The family has asked the media for privacy.
Malaysia has executed three Australians for drug offences.
Kevin Barlow and Brian Chambers were hanged in July 1986, followed by Michael McAuliffe in June 1993.