October trial date for plantation supervisor in human trafficking case

SEREMBAN: The Sessions Court here has fixed three days in October to hear the case of a 51-year-old former supervisor charged with forcing a family of five to work on an oil palm plantation in Jempol.

Judge Surita Budin fixed Oct 5, 12 and 19 for the trial after the case came up for mention before her on Friday (May 12).

In the dock is L. Jaya Seelen who had on Jan 10 claimed trial to five charges of human trafficking for labour exploitation when charged in the same court.

He pleaded not guilty to forcing S. Veerasamy, 46 and A. Rajeswarii, 39; their daughters Anbarasi, 22, and Shasikala, 19; and son-in-law P. Aridasan, 30; to perform forced labour to pay off their debts.

Jaya Seelen, who was a supervisor at Ladang Bukit Tinggi Rompin in Jempol, had allegedly committed the offences between 2008 and Nov 11, 2021.

He was charged under Section 12 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 for the offence of trafficking in persons, which carries a jail term of up to 15 years upon conviction.

The trial dates were fixed after defence counsel Barath Paramasivan told the court that the Attorney General's Chambers rejected a representation to review the charges against his client.

He said no reason was given for this.

Goh Hsiao Tung prosecuted.