Trio ordered to defend against human trafficking charges

KOTA KINABALU: Three persons, including a woman, were ordered by the Sessions Court here yesterday to enter their defence on August 29-30 this year against seven joint charges of trafficking seven Filipinas for the purpose of sex exploitation.

Judge Azreena Aziz made the order on Bambie Amor Relloque, Esekeroboy Asing, 44, and Ng Vai Kwang, 51, yesterday during her ruling at the end of the prosecution stage.

She held that the prosecution had successfully established a prima facie case against the trio and thus ordered the accused to enter their defence.

On the first to the seventh charges, the trio were alleged to have trafficked in the Filipinas aged between 19 and 28, on the first floor of Rumah Kedai Jati, Jalan Kemajuan in Kampung Parit, Labuan at 5.30pm on May 13, 2017.

The offence was framed under Section 12 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrant (ATIPSOM) Act 2007 and read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code.

The indictment carries a jail term of up to 15 years and also liable to a fine, upon conviction.

Six witnesses were called previously during the trial in the prosecution stage which commenced on January 22.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohd Khairuddin Idris acted for the prosecution while the accused persons were defended by counsel Chin Teck Ming.