10 men charged with human trafficking

IPOH: 10 men including five from Indonesia were charged at the Sessions Court here today with smuggling 35 Indonesian migrants in Segari, Manjung, last month.

The locals were Tan Ke Huat, 52; S. Ananthan, 48; P. A. Suresh, 38; Mohd Johan Musa, 38; and S. Sivalingam; while the Indonesians wre Eko Rahmadani, 22; Effa ni, 32; Tuah, 23; Siprianus Nahak Lutan, 36; and Klau Nofrianus Erick, 34.

All the accused, however, pleaded not guilty when the charge was jointly read before Judge, Azizah Ahmad.

According to the charge sheet, all the accused had committed human trafficking against 35 Indonesian migrants.

They were accused of committing the offence at the palm oil plantation in Batu 10, Segari between June 20 and June 30.

The offence under Section 26A of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (ATIPSOM) Act 2007 provides for a jail term of up to 20 years and a fine, or both, upon conviction.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Afiqah Izzati Mazlan prosecuted while Tan, Suresh and Sivalingam were represented by lawyer, Raja Segaran; Ananthan and Eko were represented by lawyers, Kashvinder Singh and Mohamad Khazali Yin, respectively.

The court did not offer bail to all the accused as the case falls under the purview of the High Court.

The court then fixed Sept 25 for mention.

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