JOHOR BARU: A farmer was charged at the Sessions Court here today with smuggling six Indonesian migrants at the Sultan Iskandar Building (BSI) Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex in June.
Salim Ahmad, 61, pleaded not guilty to the charge, which was read to him by a court interpreter before Judge Siti Noraida Sulaiman.
According to the charge sheet, the Indonesian man—who holds permanent resident status—is accused of smuggling six migrants aged between 25 and 47.
The offence was allegedly committed at Counter 04, Zone C, Outbound Vehicle Control, BSI, at about 6am on June 14.
He was charged under Section 26A of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007, which carries a maximum jail term of 20 years and a fine, or both, upon conviction.
The prosecution was conducted by Nur Suriati Mohamad, a deputy public prosecutor from the Immigration Department.
The accused was unrepresented.
The court set Aug 13 for mention.
Bail was denied.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
