KUCHING: The Magistrate’s Court here yesterday ordered a case involving an Indonesian man charged with smuggling illegal immigrants, to be transferred to the High Court for trial.
Magistrate Zubaidah Sharkawi made the decision on Asmuri Ghani after the case was mentioned and ordered him to be further remanded in prison.
The trial date is yet to be fixed.
Asmuri is facing a charge under Section 26A of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act (ATIPSOM) 2007, which provides for a maximum jail term of 15 years, a fine or both, upon conviction.
He is accused of transporting and arranging the hiring of two female illegal immigrants, aged 42 and 46. The unrepresented accused allegedly committed the offence on Feb 25 at the Kuching International Airport (KIA) departure hall at about 5am.