KLANG: A police inspector who was alleged to have raped two Mongolian women in a hotel was charged today with human trafficking.
Inspector Hazrul Hizham Ghazali, however, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him before Sessions Court judge Tasnim Abu Bakar.
The 30-year-old cop attached to the Petaling Jaya police headquarters was slapped with two charges under Section 13 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (Atipsom) Act.
He was alleged to have used his position to sexually exploit two Mongolian women aged between 20 and 36 at the hotel between April 10 and April 11.
The offence carries maximum 20 years' imprisonment upon conviction.
The court set RM20,000 bail for both offences and fixed June 17 for mention.
Deputy public prosecutor Mohammad Al-Saifi Hashim prosecuted while counsel Shah Rizal Abdul Rahman and Nik Muammer Hurrie Mohamad Sukri presented the accused.
Petaling Jaya district police chief Assistant Commissioner Nik Ezanee Mohd Faisal on April 12 said Hazrul Hizam was nabbed after police rescued the two victims at a hotel.
He said preliminary investigation revealed that the two women were arrested at a roadblock but were taken to a hotel here instead.
He said initial investigations revealed that the duo did not have complete travel documents and were suspected to be involved in immoral activities.
Police have proceeded with an interim protection order for them.