KUALA LUMPUR: Two men and a married couple pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here Friday (March 29) to trafficking two Malaysian women in Peru.
Gan Zhang Gui, 37, his wife Cham Li Na, 34, Mohd Ismail Aiman Muhamad Radhuan, 26, and Lim Chin Hock, 37, along with one "Tony" who is still in Peruvian detention, are charged with trafficking two women aged 19 and 25 in a house in La Laguna, La Planicie in La Molina, Peru on Oct 7 last year.
The charge, framed under Section 12 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code (for a criminal act by several persons with common intention), carries a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment and a fine upon conviction.
Judge Azura Alwi allowed each accused to be released on bail of RM10,000 with one surety, with the additional condition that they surrender their passports to the court until the case is concluded.
She also set May 20 for next mention of the case.
Earlier, DPP Anas Bashari informed the court that the prosecution did not propose bail, but if the court were to grant it, he recommended imposing a substantial amount.
Lawyer Hafizatul Shahirah Jamari, representing Lim and Gan, requested lower bail citing their family responsibilities; while lawyer Ikram Ibrahim, representing Cham and Mohd Ismail Aiman, requested bail to be set at RM5,000.
It is understood that all the accused were detained by the Peruvian police and repatriated to Malaysia for further investigation. – Bernama
