The accused Lim Kup Nam, 59 (second from left) and Liew Ching Choy, 57, (second from right) being escorted to the Johor Baru court here.
JOHOR BARU: Two men have been charged at the Sessions Court here with allegedly managing and assisting in the operation of a prostitution den.
The accused Lim Kup Nam, 59 and Liew Ching Choy, 57, pleaded not guilty when the charge was read in front of judge Siti Noraida Sulaiman.
According to the charge sheet, the duo have been keeping, managing and assisting in the management of a brothel at Jalan Indah 12/8, Taman Bukit Indah here between Jan 1 and 25 this year.
They were jointly charged with the offence under Section 373 of the Penal Code for soliciting for the purpose of prostitution and read together with Section 34 of the same Act.
Upon conviction, they could face a jail term of up to 15 years and fines.
Both suspects were represented by lawyer Goh Sze Han while the case was prosecuted by Deputy Public Prosecutor Umar Faiz Abdul Kohar.
The judge set bail at RM13,000 with one surety each and set March 4 for next mention.
The court also ordered Lim, who was unemployed and Liew, who was a lorry driver, to surrender their passports and to report to the nearest police station once a month.
Meanwhile, in a separate court, two Thai women claimed trial to prostituting themselves and living in the country without valid passes.
The accused, Konchanok Naleebut, 26 and U-Raiwan Sukha, 25, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read in English before magistrate Hidayatul Syuhada Shamsudin.
They were accused of prostituting themselves at Jalan Indah 12/8, Taman Bukit Indah at 7.30pm on Jan 25.
For the offence, they were charged under Section 372B of the Penal Code with soliciting for the purpose of prostitution, where if convicted, they could face a maximum of one year prison sentence or fines of both.
They were also charged under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 with living in Malaysia without a valid pass or permit.
If convicted, they could face a maximum RM10,000 fine or up to five years jail sentence or both and up to six whippings.
The two women were also represented by Goh while the case was prosecuted by Deputy Public Prosecutor Nur Aqillah Ahmad Rofeai.
Hidayatul allowed bail for the two women at RM5,000 with two Malaysian surety each and set March 7 for the next mention.
They were also required to surrender their passports and report to the nearest police station once a month.
All suspects posted for bail.
