JOHOR BARU: A 65-year-old massage centre owner, her son and their Indonesian friend have been charged at the Magistrate’s Court here with trafficking two women for sexual exploitation.

       Lu Yon Moi, Tin Chee Keng, 42, and Nurul Hasanah, 26, were accused of trafficking a 25-year-old Indonesian woman by deception to exploit her for sex at Jalan Mawar, Kampung Baru Masai, in Seri Alam here at around 9pm between March 17 and March 20.

       They were also charged with trafficking and sexually exploiting a 29-year-old Malaysian woman using deception, at a massage centre in Jalan Masai Lama, Masai, in Seri Alam here at around 3pm between March 14 and March 19.

       The three were accused of abusing the two victims’ position as persons vulnerable to human trafficking activities.

       Facing the music: (From left) Lu and Tin.

       The accused said they understood the charges that were read to them before Magistrate A. Shaarmini yesterday.

       The charges, framed under Section 12 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code (for a criminal act by several persons with common intention), carries a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine upon conviction.

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       No plea was recorded from the accused.

       In submission for bail, deputy public prosecutor R. Kodesviary asked for the amount for the accused to be set at RM30,000 each.

       The three accused were represented by lawyer Baharudin Baharim, who asked for the bail amount to be lowered.

       He said that Lu suffers from diabetes and had undergone a heart procedure.

       He said Tin, who works as a travel agency driver in Singapore, has a heart problem and diabetes, and has two children to take care of.

       Baharudin said that Nurul Hasanah, who works at a massage centre, is divorced with two children back home in Indonesia, and hoped for lower bail.

       Shaarmini set bail at RM20,000 each with two sureties for Lu and Tin.

       Nurul Hasanah’s bail was set at RM30,000 in two sureties. She has to surrender her passport to the court.

       Shaarmini set May 8 for the next mention.

       The three posted bail.