RM90,000 bail just too much to bear for supervisor

Teary-eyed: Ganis pleaded not guilty to 15 counts of human trafficking and child labour. — Bernama

KUALA KANGSAR: Plantation supervisor L. Ganis, 43, was seen weeping after the Sessions Court here imposed a RM90,000 bail over the 15 counts of human trafficking and child labour.

Sessions court judge Niran Tan Kran ordered him to pay RM6,000 for each charge, surrender his passport to the court, report to the nearest police station every month and not to disturb any of the victims or their families.

He was accused of trafficking in his victims at an oil palm plantation in Belukar Semang, Kampung Tasek, Pengkalan Hulu between April last year and Feb 26 this year.

Ganis was slapped with 12 counts of trafficking in persons under Section 13 of the Anti Trafficking in Persons and Anti Smuggling in Migrants Act, two counts of trafficking in children under Section 14, and one count of trafficking in persons under Section 12 of the same Act.

His alleged victims included six men, two teenage boys and seven women, aged between 13 and 66 years old.

Deputy public prosecutor Fadhli Ab Wahab prosecuted while Ganis was represented by lawyer S.M. Karunananthan.

Earlier, Fadhli objected to the bail due to the seriousness of his charges.

“All 15 charges are serious. If given bail, there is a risk that the suspect will not come to court for hearings or mentions.”

However, Karunananthan said that his client had to take care of his two wives and his mother, who is blind.

“The victims have been placed in various shelter homes and there is no chance of him seeing them.

“There is no way for the witnesses to be influenced or threatened,” he said, adding that a reasonable bail amount should be given because his family was poor.

Judge Niran allowed the bail and reminded Ganis not to meet the victims of the incident and to report to the nearest police station, preferably Pengkalan Hulu every month.

He had not posted bail as at press time.

In the magistrate’s court, Ganis claimed trial to having a tattoo associated to the Gang 04/18 underworld group on his right thigh.

He was charged under Section 52(3) of the Societies Act.

After the charges were read, he pleaded not guilty and his counsel requested for a reasonable bail for the case.

Magistrate Noorhidayah Mohd Saad granted RM4,000 with a bailor present.

Both courts fixed April 18 for the next mention of the case.