DEATH.....Drug trafficking carries a mandatory death penalty under Malaysia's anti-drug laws. (AFP)
AUSTRALIA'S Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed today that 32-year-old Dominic Jude Christopher Bird had been charged with possessing 225g of methamphetamine after a raid at a coffee house in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday.
"It is possible that he will be charged with Trafficking in Dangerous Drugs, Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries a mandatory death penalty upon conviction,'' a spokesperson said.
Although the truck driver from Perth has been arrested, no charge has been made.
Australia's acting Foreign Affairs Minister Craig Emerson said consular assistance has been offered.
"It would be wrong for me as the acting Foreign Minister to seek to intervene in this beyond providing the normal consular assistance which any government would do in any circumstance," he said in Canberra.
"We will provide, as we always do, every consular assistance to every Australian citizen but beyond that, it would be wrong for me to speculate about the nature and causes of the apprehension of this man.
"Let the justice system take its course.''
Under Malaysian law, a person convicted of possessing more than 50g of methamphetamine is declared a drug trafficker and faces a mandatory death sentence.
Malaysia has executed three Australians for drug offences. Kevin Barlow and Brian Chambers, both from Perth, were hanged in July 1986 for trafficking 141.9g of heroin.
In June 1993, Michael McAuliffe from Sydney was hanged after serving eight years in jail for heroin trafficking. (Agencies)
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