Trader charged with trafficking women

SEREMBAN: A trader has pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here to trafficking two Indonesian women for the purpose of sexual exploitation in Bahau.

Muhammad Soleh Abdullah, 36, made the plea after the charges were read before Judge Datin Surita Budin yesterday.

Muhammad Soleh, together with another person still at large, was charged with trafficking a 28-year-old woman at Taman Khaya 2 Bahau, Jempol, between November 2022 and March 11 this year.

For the second charge, Muhammad Soleh, together with another person still at large, was accused of trafficking a 34-year-old woman for the same exploitation at the same place and time between March 2 and March 11.

He was charged under Section 12 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007, reported Bernama.

Deputy public prosecutor Hafizah Zainul Hashimi prosecuted while Muhammad Soleh was represented by lawyer M. Gobinathan.

The judge set bail at RM20,000 with one surety and the accused has to report to the nearest police station every month and submit his passport to the court. The court also ordered Muhammad Soleh not to harass prosecution witnesses until the case is over. The case is set for mention on May 9.