The Star
by Christina Tan
by Christina Tan
KLANG: A 47-year-old tourist guide claimed trial at two separate Sessions Courts here to trafficking 26 people, including six minors, from China.
Chin Fung Chu, from Sabah, pleaded not guilty to 26 counts of trafficking 17 males and nine females at an open carpark of Bangunan AMC at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang on Aug 4.
The victims were between the ages of 15 and 46 years old.
He was charged under Section 14 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act 2007 -- an offence for trafficking in children carries a jail term of up to 20 years and a fine.
He was also charged under Section 12 of the same act, which carries a jail term of up to 15 years and a fine, for trafficking in persons.
Chin faced the first 13 counts of charges before Judge Datuk Anita Harun.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Siti Syuhada Alwi proposed bail of RM7,000 for each charge, noting that human trafficking was a serious offence.
When appealing for a lower bail, Chin’s counsel J. Ganesan said his client was only an employee and as a tourist guide and he was earning low pay.
He said the high bail would put Chin, who has yet to be convicted, under great pressure.
“He is the sole breadwinner and has to support an elderly mother and a wife who is seven months’ pregnant,” Ganesan said.
He added that the accused did not tell his wife about his arrest as he did not want it to affect her and their unborn child.
He said all his family members were in Sabah and Chin’s younger brother had flown in from their hometown to post bail for him.
Justice Anita set bail at RM5,000 for each charge in two sureties, saying that it was a reasonable bail in view of the jail term provided for in the Act.
She also ordered Chin to surrender his passport to the court.
Later, Chin was charged in another Sessions Court to 13 counts of human trafficking.
DPP Siti Norbaya Jamil also proposed RM7,000 bail for each charge.
Judge Yong Zarida Sazali fixed bail at RM5,000 for each charge in one surety and ordered his passport impounded.
All the cases will be mentioned on Sept 5.
Chin faced the first 13 counts of charges before Judge Datuk Anita Harun.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Siti Syuhada Alwi proposed bail of RM7,000 for each charge, noting that human trafficking was a serious offence.
When appealing for a lower bail, Chin’s counsel J. Ganesan said his client was only an employee and as a tourist guide and he was earning low pay.
He said the high bail would put Chin, who has yet to be convicted, under great pressure.
“He is the sole breadwinner and has to support an elderly mother and a wife who is seven months’ pregnant,” Ganesan said.
He added that the accused did not tell his wife about his arrest as he did not want it to affect her and their unborn child.
He said all his family members were in Sabah and Chin’s younger brother had flown in from their hometown to post bail for him.
Justice Anita set bail at RM5,000 for each charge in two sureties, saying that it was a reasonable bail in view of the jail term provided for in the Act.
She also ordered Chin to surrender his passport to the court.
Later, Chin was charged in another Sessions Court to 13 counts of human trafficking.
DPP Siti Norbaya Jamil also proposed RM7,000 bail for each charge.
Judge Yong Zarida Sazali fixed bail at RM5,000 for each charge in one surety and ordered his passport impounded.
All the cases will be mentioned on Sept 5.
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