SEREMBAN: A 38-year-old businessman was acquitted and discharged by the Sessions Court here over charges of trafficking two Indonesian women in Bahau.
Judge Surita Budin, in her decision at the end of the prosecution’s case, said the prosecution had failed to prove a prima facie case against Muhammad Soleh Abdullah.
"After perusing statements by witnesses and written submissions from both parties, the court, upon a maximum evaluation of evidence, finds that the prosecution had failed to prove their case against the accused.
"The accused is hereby acquitted and discharged without having to enter his defence," she said on Wednesday (Jan 8).
For the first charge, 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 Nov 2022 and March 11, 2023.
For the second charge, the accused, also together with another person still at large, was accused of trafficking a 34-year-old woman for the same purpose at the same place and time.
Offenders can be jailed for up to 20 years and fined upon conviction.
He was charged 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.
Muhammad Soleh had claimed trial when first charged in March 2023.
Counsel for the accused, Kartikeyan Supramaniam, said his client was glad that his ordeal was finally over.
"He is more than happy to finally put this episode behind him after battling it for two and a half years.
"My client wants to now fully concentrate on his business of making aluminium cabinets and supplying manpower for the construction sector," he added.
Nurul Balkis Zunaidi prosecuted.
