GEORGE TOWN: A couple pleaded not guilty at the Magistrate's Court here Wednesday (March 12) on charges of employing 30 foreign workers from Indonesia without valid passes or permits.
Chong Chen Huei, 48, and Indonesian Puji Astutiningsih, 51 were charged under Section 55B of the Immigration Act 1959/63, Act 155 and Section 34 of the Penal Code for committing the offence at a house at 34, Lorong Tembaga, Jelutong, Penang on Feb 27 this year.
Lawyer M. Sharmila, who represented the couple, asked for leniency on the bail amount citing that Chong is a businessman who has four children earning RM3,000 per month and a diabetic while his unemployed wife Puji has to care for three children from a previous marriage.
The case was prosecuted by commercial crime investigating officer Insp Wan Muhammad Wan Azmi.
Magistrate Siti Nurul Suhaila set bail at RM20,000 with one surety for Chong and RM30,000 with two sureties for Puji.
So far, only Chong has posted bail.
Both had their passports impounded and Puji is to report to any police station on the first of every month until the case is over.
Siti Nurul fixed April 15 for case mention.
