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KUALA KANGSAR: The Sessions Court here today acquitted and discharged a plantation manager who was charged with 15 counts of human trafficking two years ago.
Judge Ahzal Fairuz Ahmad Khairuddin ordered L Ganis, 44, to be freed after finding that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against the man.
In the judgment, the judge said all the 15 victims, in their testimony, said that they were offered jobs at the plantation and not forced to work there.
He said the prosecution had failed to prove that the victims were ill-treated by Ganis, as was claimed.
Ganis was charged with trafficking in 15 individuals, aged between 13 and 66, for exploitation as forced labour at Ladang Koperasi Kelapa Sawit Sdn Bhd, Belukar Semang, Kampung Tasek, Pengkalan Hulu, between April 2016 and Feb 26, 2017.
The charge was framed under Section 12 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007, providing imprisonment of up to 15 years and a fine upon conviction, and Section 14 and 13 of the same law, which provides imprisonment of up to 20 years and fine, if found guilty.
The prosecution was conducted by prosecuting officer Hasyutantee Khalil while Ganis was represented by lawyers Ramzani Idris and M Haresh.
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