Kota Kinabalu: An e-hailing service driver was charged at the High Court here with transporting two smuggled Filipina migrants, last year.
Royhan Abd Mutalif, 34, pleaded not guilty before Judicial Commissioner Amelati Parnell to the offence on Tuesday.
Royhan was accused of committing the offence at Kg Ambong, Kota Belud at 7pm on Nov 18, 2022.
The charge, under Section 26J of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrant (Atipsom) Act 2007, is punishable by a jail term of up to five years and liability of a fine of up to RM250,000, or both, on conviction.
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The court fixed July 28 for a decision on the bail application and ordered Royhan to be remanded further.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Rustam Sanip appeared for the prosecution, while counsel Nazri Zikiri represented the accused.
Meanwhile, three people including a Filipina were each sentenced to six months’ jail for committing mischief by cutting cable belonging to a telecommunication company.
Fisherman Jeffrey Jais, labourer Amal Ampin, both 37, and Filipina Mobi Fidli, 29, pleaded guilty before Magistrate Lovely Natasha Charles to stealing the cables belonging to Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) at 3.30am on July 19, this year at Jalan Kuala Laut, Likas.
They were charged under Section 431A of the Penal Code which carries a jail term of up to two years or fine, or both, on conviction.
The court was informed by the prosecution that the trio was caught red-handed by the authority while cutting the underground copper and fibre optic cables.
Inspector Kelvan Elson Maik informed the court that the total loss was RM1,000.
Duty counsel representing Jeffrey and Amal requested for lenient sentence by saying that they were remorseful.
Mobi, who was not represented, was ordered to be referred to the Immigration Department thereafter.
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