Duo charged with trafficking in two Indonesian women

KOTA KINABALU: Two men claimed trial at the Sessions Court here yesterday to two counts of assisting in managing vice activities and trafficking in two Indonesian women.

On the first charge, Nurdin Kastawi, 54, and Musa Haris, 42, who were brought before judge Azreena Aziz, were alleged to have assisted in managing vice activities in two rooms of an unnamed lodging house at Jalan Tugu in Kampung Air here at 6.30pm on November 2.

The second charge accused Nurdin and Musa of trafficking in the two Indonesian women, aged 20 and 22 for the purpose of exploitation at the same time and place.

The two accused, who allegedly committed the offences with two accomplices still at large, were jointly charged under Section 373 (1) (a) of the Penal Code and Section 12 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrant (ATIPSOM) Act 2007, read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code.

Both the indictments carry a maximum jail of 15 years and also liable to a fine, upon conviction.

The judge fixed December 16 for Nurdin’s case management while for Musa’s case management was set on November 21.

In the meantime, Nurdin was released on RM20,000 bail for the two charges, with two local sureties but Musa was ordered to be further held in custody, pending disposal of the case.