Court upholds officer’s acquittal of human trafficking charge

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PUTRAJAYA: An Immigration officer who was suspended from work four years ago after being charged with human trafficking involving a Rohingya refugee could finally breath a sigh of relief after the Court of Appeal yesterday rejected the prosecution’s appeal against his acquittal.

Rahman Selamat, 49, was charged with committing the offence on Mohd Ikbal Mohd Ali, 29, for the purpose of exploitation at Pengkalan Haram Kertas, Kampung Gual Tok Deh, Rantau Panjang in Kelantan between 12.30am and 1am on April 9, 2009.

At the time of the alleged incident, he was an Immigration officer entrusted with supervising the deportation depot unit at Pekan Nenas, Johor.

On Jan 20 last year, the Kota Baharu Sessions Court acquitted and discharged him of the charge, prompting the prosecution to appeal to the High Court.

On Oct 30 the same year, the High Court rejected the prosecution’s appeal and affirmed the Sessions Court ruling.

The prosecution filed an appeal to the Court of Appeal which yesterday, in an unanimous decision by a panel of three judges headed by Justice Datuk Abdul Malik Ishak, was again rejected.

Abdul Malik, who presided with Justice Datuk Azhar Mohamed and Justice Datuk Hamid Sultan Abu Backer in ruling that the prosecution’s appeal was without merit, also upheld the High Court’s decision.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar appeared for the prosecution while counsel Ahmad Nizam Mohamed represented Rahman. — Bernama