TAIPING: Four men, including an Immigration Department officer, were charged in the Sessions Court here today, with smuggling six Vietnamese immigrants into the country in March, this year.
The officer, Abdul Hadi Mat Din, 42, and Teoh Boon Poh, 58, Chua Eng Keong, 47, and Thai national Sukree Awang, 48, however pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to them before Judicial Commissioner, Noor Ruwena Md Nurdin.
According to the charge sheet, they were jointly accused of smuggling six female immigrants from Vietnam into the country.
The offence was allegedly committed at the paid parking space of the Immigration, Customs, Quarantine, and Security (ICQS) Complex in Bukit Berapit, Pengkalan Hulu, at 11.26am on March 9.
They were charged under Section 26A of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants (ATIPSOM) Act 2007, which provides for a jail term of up to 20 years and a fine, or both, upon conviction.
Deputy public prosecutor Mohamad Nazreen Zabarudin prosecuted, while Abdul Hadi and Teoh were represented by T. Harpal Singh. Chua was represented by Mohamad Hafiz Jalaludin, while Muhamad Syah Azlan Abdulullah represented Sukree.
The court then set July 31 for mention and document submission.