Plantation manager faces 15 counts of forced labour
KUALA KANGSAR: A plantation manager pleaded not guilty in the Magistrate's Court yesterday, to 15 counts of trafficking in locals for forced labour last month.
The charges were read to L. Ganis, 43, before magistrate Noorhidayah Mohd Saad.
According to the charge sheet, Ganis is accused of trafficking in nine males and six females including two children, aged between 13 and 66 for the purpose of labour exploitation, using threats and violence.
He allegedly committed the offences at Ladang Koperasi Kelapa Sawit Sdn Bhd, Kecil Kroh district, Belukar Semang, Kampung Tasek Pengkalan Hulu at 12.10am on Feb 26.
The charges were preferred under Section 12, 13 and 14 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (ATIPSOM) Act 2007.
Noorhidayah set March 27 for mention of the case at the Kuala Kangsar Sessions Court.
In the same court, Ganis also pleaded not guilty to a charge of being associated with a secret society based on the symbol of a coin bearing the number 04 tattooed on his right thigh.
According to the charge, Ganis had the tattoo linked to the Wah Kee secret society, at the compound of the Pengkalan Hulu dsitrict police headqaurters at 4.45pm on March 15.
He was charged under Section 52(3) of the Societies Act 1960, and the court fixed April 18 for submission of documents at the Pengkalan Hulu Magistrate's Court. - Bernama