KLANG, Oct 24 — A married couple pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court today to a charge of trafficking an Indonesian maid for exploitation as forced labour.
Electronics company director Azhar Mat Taib and his wife, Zuzian Mahmud, both 59, made the plea before Judge Mohd Sabri Ismail.
They are jointly charged with trafficking Seni, 47, for exploitation as forced labour at a house in Kota Perdana, Seri Kembangan, on Sunday (October 19).
They were charged under Section 13(a) of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007, read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code, and face a life sentence or not less than five years imprisonment and caning, if convicted.
The court granted bail to the couple at RM20,000 each, with one surety each, and also ordered them to surrender their passports and not to intimidate witnesses.
The prosecution was conducted by Deputy Public Prosecutor Nur ‘Ayuni Jamri, while lawyer GS Gabriel represented Azhar and Zuzian.
The court set November 28 for mention.
