A 34-YEAR-old aged-care nurse from Melbourne is now the second Australian facing the mandatory death penalty in Malaysia after being charged under the nation's tough drug laws.

Emma Louise L'aiguille was arrested with Nigerian man Anthony Ndidi Esikalam, after a police sting in central Kuala Lumpur on July 17 allegedly found one kilogram of methamphetamine under the seat of their car.

Two other Nigerian men escaped and police are now believed to be looking for them.

One of the missing men is believed to be L'aiguille's partner.

L'aiguille and Esikalam fronted the Jalan Duta Magistrates Court in Kuala Lumpur today, where they were each tentatively charged with one count of joint drug trafficking.

Read more at Brisbane Times