Kota Kinabalu: A man was freed from the charge of trafficking three women from Thailand for the purpose of sex.
Sessions Court Judge Azreena Aziz discharged and acquitted Chin Kok Vui after making decision at the end of the defence case on Wednesday.
The court ruled that the prosecution had failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt against Chin.
The court also ordered the bail sum to be refunded accordingly to Chin.
Chin was accused of trafficking the three Thailand women aged 21 and 23, for the purpose of sex at 2.30pm on Nov 4, 2017 at a hotel in Lorong Kemajuan here.
The offence under Section 12 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrant (ATIPSOM) Act 2007 carries a jail term of up to 15 years, and liability to a fine, on conviction. The prosecution had called several witnesses while three defence witnesses testified in the hearing.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Imran Ali appeared for the prosecution while counsels Chin Tek Ming, Edward Paul and Jul Hamri defended Chin.
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