Manager acquitted, discharged of trafficking in women

KOTA KINABALU: A 36-yearold manager of an entertainment outlet was acquitted and discharged from three charges of trafficking in foreign women by the Sessions Court here yesterday.

Sessions Court judge Azreena Aziz acquitted and discharged Benedict Chai Jun Siang after ruling that the defence had cast reasonable doubts on the prosecution's case.

On the first to the third charges, the accused, represented by counsels Chin Teck Ming and Edward Paul, was alleged to have trafficked in three women aged 24, 32 and 23 years old, respectively in Labuan on September 19, 2013.

The charges were framed under Section 12 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 which carries a jail term of up to 15 years and a fine, upon conviction.

In an unrelated case, a man was ordered to enter his defence by the same court over a charge of raping his daughter.

The trial judge made the order on the 60-year-old accused after ruling that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against him.

The accused was alleged to have raped the victim, aged 18, at an unnumbered house in Inanam at 1am in May, 2016.

He was charged under Section 376 (3) of the Penal Code which is punishable by a maximum jail term of 30 years and whipping, upon conviction.

The court fixed August 29 this year for the accused to enter his defence, while the prosecution indicated that five witnesses would be called to testify against the accused.