Kenneth Eswaran and wife charged with exploiting their maids

KLANG: Tan Sri Kenneth Eswaran and his wife have been hauled to the Sessions Court here to face three counts of exploitation and forced labour of their three domestic helpers.

The former president of the Malaysian Associated Indian Cham­bers of Commerce and Industry (MAICCI) and his wife Puan Sri Vivienne Ketheeswaran pleaded not guilty after the charges were read out before Sessions Court judge Roszianayati Ahmad here on Friday (April 12).

Eswaran, whose birth name is K. Ketheeswaran, and Vivienne were jointly accused of trafficking three Indonesian women – aged 25, 29 and 41 – for exploitation of forced labour.

The offences were allegedly committed at a house on Jalan Cinta Alam, Country Heights in Kajang between October, 2012 and March this year.

The charges under Section 12 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 carry a jail time up to 15 years and a fine, if convicted.

Roszianayati fixed bail at RM50,000 in one surety each.

The court also ordered for the accused to surrender their passports to the court.

DPP Fatnin Yusof prosecuted.

Eswaran and Vivienne were represented by lawyers Shashi Devan and Datuk C. Vijaya Kumar.