Four foreign men were charged in the Magistrate's Court in Kangar today for trafficking of migrants at Wang Kelian, Kaki Bukit, last year.
Myanmar nationals Shahidullah @Syahidullah, 18, and Momotin @Dus Mohamad, 19, were charged with smuggling Mohd Belal, also from Myanmar, at Bukit Wang Burma, Wang Kelian, at 5.30am between August 2014 and March 10, 2015.
Biau Wong Chumpo, 46, a Thai, was charged with the same offence for bringing in Bangladeshi, Md Tifajir Husin at 1.30am between October 2014 and May 2, 2015.
Bangladeshi Nurul Islam, 32, was slapped with three charges of smuggling three fellow countrymen at Bukit Genting Perah, Wang Kelian.
The first charge was for smuggling Mohamad Nurbasya, at 4pm between October 2014 and May 3, 2015.
The second charge was for smuggling Delwar between October 2014 and April, 2015 while the third was for smuggling Joy at 4am between November 2014 and May 3, 2015.
All four accused nodded as soon as the charges were read out to them in the Burmese, Thai and Bangladeshi languages by three different interpreters.
They were charged with committing the offences under Section 26A of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 which provides for a maximum jail term of 15 years or fine or both upon conviction.
Magistrate Mohd Izmi Ibrahim set June 9 for mention of the case in the Sessions Court in Kangar.
The case was prosecuted by deputy public prosecutors Mohamad Abazafree Mohd Abbas, Afzainizam Abdul Aziz and Nadia Zulkefli, while all the accused were not represented.
- Bernama