KOTA KINABALU: Three Filipinas claimed trial in the Magistrate Court yesterday to separate charges of soliciting for the purpose of prostitution.
Jerimey Lamendra Umali, 22, Kristine Dasan Lujan and Berly Grace S Jugado, both 21, who appeared before magistrate Nuruhuda Mohd Yusof, were charged under Section 372B of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum one year jail, or a fine, or both, upon conviction.
The three accused, who did not understand Bahasa Malaysia, were assisted by the court Tagalog interpreter.
They had allegedly committed the offence at separate rooms of a hotel here at 9.45pm on Feb 21.
The court postponed to March 19 this year for mentioning the case and ordered all the unrepresented accused to be further remanded in custody, pending the disposal of the case.
Earlier, prosecuting officer Inspector Syahrin Ali informed the court that he had received an oral instruction from the deputy public prosecutor’s office to apply from the court for an adjournment of two weeks.
Syahrin explained that he is still awaiting further instruction from the Attorney General’s Chambers for a determination as to whether or not the case could come under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and the Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act.