Man, 60, gets 10 years and 6 months

Kota Kinabalu: A 60-year-old man was jailed a total of 10 years and six months for trafficking a Filipina for the purpose of exploiting her and also permitting three illegal immigrants to remain at his premises.Sessions Court Judge Azreena Aziz handed the sentence to Koay Wooi Chew after he was found guilty of the two charges against him.

In making the decision, Azreena ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.

On the first count, Koay was sentenced to nine years' jail for trafficking the Filipina who has no document at 5.24pm on July 22, 2016 at a unit in Beverly Hills Apartment, Bundusan Penampang.

He committed the offence under Section 12/34 of the Anti-Trafficking-In Persons Act 2007 which carries a jail term of up to 15 years and fine, on conviction, together with an accomplice who is still at large.

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On the second count, he was sent to prison for six months for each illegal immigrant he allowed to stay in his premises at an apartment building in Bundusan, Penampang at 7.15pm on July 22, 2016.

The offence under Section 55E (1) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 provides for a fine of up to RM30,000 or a jail term of up to 12 months, or both, for each illegal immigrant found at a premises.

The court ordered Koay to serve the jail sentence concurrently.

Azreena however granted Koay's application to stay the execution of sentence pending appeal against the decision to the High Court.

During mitigation counsel Dominic Chew who represented Koay asked for a lenient sentence taking into consideration the age of his client and that he has a health problem.

He also told the court that Koay has family to look after and that his youngest child is one-year-old.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Husna Abdul Halim urged the court to hand down a deterrent sentence submitting that the activity of trafficking in persons for the purpose of exploitation is a modern form of slavery.

She stressed that Malaysia has been known as a destination country for trafficked persons especially women who are subjected to sex trafficking.

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"Thus, the government views offences relating to trafficking in persons with grave concern and takes serious actions in combating them.

"To reflect our government's stand, the courts must be seen to mete out sentences that are proportionate to the serious crimes committed. Therefore, I ask for a long custodial sentence with a maximum fine imposed for each charge and sentences to run consecutively from the date of conviction," Husna said. - Cynthia D Baga

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