Plantation manager charged with 15 counts of human trafficking
KUALA KANGSAR: A plantation manager was charged in the Sessions Court here yesterday with 15 counts of human trafficking for exploitation as forced labour.
L. Ganis, 43, however, pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Judge Tuan Niran Tan Kran allowed Ganis bail of RM6,000 on each count and also ordered the accused to report himself at the nearest police station every month.
Ganis was also ordered to surrender his passport to the court and not to intimidate the families of the victims.
He was charged with trafficking in 15 individuals, who included two teenage boys, at Ladang Koperasi Kelapa Sawit Sdn. Bhd, Daerah Kecil Kroh, Belukar Semang, Kampung Tasek Pengkalan Hulu, at 12.10 am last Feb 26.
The charges were made under Section 12, 13 and 14 of the Anti-Trafficking In Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007.
Deputy public prosecutor Fadhli Ab Wahab prosecuted, while Ganis was represented by lawyer S.M. Karunanantha.
Meanwhile, in the Magistrate’s Court, Ganis pleaded not guilty to a charge of being involved in a secret society known as the Wah Kee (Geng 04/18) and was allowed bail of RM4,000. He was alleged to have committed the offence, by having a symbol of the gang, in the form of overlapping coins with the number 04, on his right thigh in the compound of the Pengkalan Hulu police station at 4.45 pm last March 15.
The charge was made under Section 52 (3) of the Societies Act.
Both courts set April 18 for mention.