Woman charged in Johor with trafficking, exploiting kids
At the Johor Bahru sessions court today, Haliza Palok was charged under Section 14 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 with trafficking in children. (Facebook pic)
PETALING JAYA : A woman was charged in the Johor Bahru sessions court today with trafficking and exploiting a boy and a teenage girl in December last year.
Haliza Palok, 55, pleaded not guilty after the charges were read to her before judge Thalha Bachok @ Embok Mok, Harian Metro reported.
Haliza is accused under Section 5(1)(c) of the Children and Young Persons (Employment) Act 1966 of trafficking a boy, aged between 10 and 12 years old, and a teenage girl between 13 and 15 years old, by exploiting them for illegal activities.
Haliza was also charged under Section 14 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 with trafficking in children, having allegedly committed the offence at Jalan Kargo 2, Senai Airport City, Senai, Johor, at 6.54pm on Dec 19, 2024.
For the first charge, she faces up to a year's imprisonment, a RM5,000 fine or both, if convicted. On the second charge, she faces up to 30 years in jail and whipping, if found guilty.
The prosecution was led by immigration department deputy public prosecutor Tan Yen Thung, while lawyer Amarpreet Singh represented the accused.
The court allowed bail of RM17,000 for both charges with two sureties, and ordered Haliza to report to the Johor immigration department once a month, surrender her passport to the court and refrain from tampering with the prosecution witnesses.
It set Aug 27 for further mention of the case and discovery of documents.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Free Malaysia Today
2 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Bursa ends lower amid US tariff concerns
KUALA LUMPUR : Bursa Malaysia erased early gains to close lower for the sixth consecutive day today, weighed down by selling pressure in regional emerging markets due to concerns over the ongoing US tariff conflict, said an analyst. Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd equity research vice-president Thong Pak Leng said key regional indices closed mixed amid uncertainties surrounding US president Donald Trump's tariff war, prompting cautious investor behaviour. European equities slipped at the open due to weak sentiment and in anticipation of upcoming eurozone inflation figures. In contrast, markets in China and Hong Kong rallied on hopes of renewed US-China trade talks. On the domestic front, market sentiment remains subdued as investors adopt a wait-and-see stance amid ongoing foreign selling and escalating global trade uncertainties involving the US. The benchmark index is currently near its psychological 1,500 support level. 'Despite these challenges, we view this as an opportunity to pick up blue-chip stocks at lower prices due to their strong fundamentals, attractive valuations, and appealing dividend yields. 'As such, we anticipate the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) to trend within the 1,490-1,520 range for the week,' Thong told Bernama. Meanwhile, UOB Kay Hian Wealth Advisors Sdn Bhd head of investment research Sedek Jantan said market caution has intensified amid growing fears of a tariff-driven global slowdown and weakening external demand. Although the US has extended a pause on tariffs for certain Chinese goods until Aug 31, tensions have flared after Beijing rejected US accusations of breaching the existing tariff truce, instead blaming Washington for backtracking. 'A potential call between Trump and Chinese president Xi Jinping this week may offer much-needed clarity on the future direction of trade relations,' he said. Locally, Malaysia's manufacturing purchasing managers' index edged up to 48.8 in May from April, but remained below the 50-point threshold, signalling continued contraction. 'Weak new orders and declining output reflect persistent demand weakness. 'As a trade-reliant economy, Malaysia remains vulnerable to global trade disruptions, with export-oriented sectors, particularly industrial products, technology, and small-cap stocks, most exposed to downside risks,' Sedek added. At 5pm, the FBM KLCI eased 5.10 points, or 0.33%, to 1,503.25 from last Friday's close of 1,508.35. The benchmark index opened 4.37 points higher at 1,512.72 and moved between 1,497.42 and 1,514.12 throughout the trading session. Market breadth was negative with decliners thumping gainers 705 to 297, while 423 counters were unchanged, 921 untraded and 15 suspended. Turnover fell to 3.04 billion units valued at RM2.20 billion compared with last Friday's 3.21 billion units worth RM5.04 billion. Bursa Malaysia was closed yesterday in conjunction with the official birthday of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim. Among the heavyweights, Petronas Chemicals dipped 14 sen to RM3.28, QL Resources fell 10 sen to RM4.40, IHH Healthcare eased 15 sen to RM6.75, Press Metal dropped nine sen to RM4.95, and Hong Leong Financial Group lost 28 sen to RM16.30. Among active stocks, Permaju Industries eased 0.5 sen to one sen, ACE Market debutant ICT Zone Asia, Tanco, and Harvest Miracle Capital were flat each at 20 sen, RM1 and 18 sen respectively, and MyEG slipped three sen to 89 sen. On the index board, the FBM Emas Index trimmed 45.35 points to 11,254.45, the FBMT 100 Index lost 38.28 points to 11,022.72, and the FBM ACE Index sank 69.22 points to 4,481.81. The FBM Emas Shariah Index decreased 46.10 points to 11,210.15, while the FBM 70 Index retreated 59.35 points to 16,142.16. Sector-wise, the financial services index slid 77.90 points to 17,762.63, the industrial products and services index shed 2.57 points to 150.08, and the energy index fell 9.08 points to 698.96, but the plantation index increased 11.03 points to 7,218.88. The Main Market volume declined to 1.21 billion units worth RM1.90 billion against Friday's 1.88 billion units valued at RM4.82 billion. Warrants turnover expanded to 1.50 billion units valued at RM201.92 million from 1 billion units worth RM111.49 million previously. The ACE Market volume advanced to 323.10 million shares worth RM94.99 million versus 318.43 million shares worth RM107.68 million on Friday. Consumer products and services counters accounted for 270.72 million shares traded on the Main Market, industrial products and services (184.66 million), construction (76.45 million), technology (139.98 million), SPAC (nil), financial services (85.81 million), property (164.11 million), plantation (29.49 million), REITs (11.64 million), closed/fund (3,400), energy (106.55 million), healthcare (57.20 million), telecommunications and media (43.34 million), transportation and logistics (18.57 million), utilities (31.21 million), and business trusts (20,700).
Free Malaysia Today
2 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
8 change pleas to not guilty on charges of extortion, threatening to kill man
All eight had initially pleaded guilty to the charges in the Johor Bahru magistrates' court on April 25. (File pic) PETALING JAYA : Eight people, including a woman known as 'Bella', changed their pleas from guilty to not guilty at the Johor Bahru magistrates' court today on charges of extorting, confining and threatening to kill a man in Plentong last April. Bella, whose real name is Nuredrianna Balqqisyh Anabella Norazman, 22, and the other seven recorded the change in plea on three charges before magistrate A Shaarmini today, Bernama reported. The other seven are Aqmal Hafifi Mustafa Kamal, 25, Ahmad Rushdi Jumadi, 23, Nur Shafiq Abdullah, 25, Haikal Zulkarnain, 19, Amierul Hakim Shamsuri, 23, Danish Hakim Kamaruddin, 20, and Syamsul Hamiziey Saiful Razali, 19. On the first charge, they were jointly accused of criminal intimidation by issuing death threats to Faris Syahmi Ridzwan, 22. On the second charge, the eight, along with two others still at large, were accused of extortion by threatening Faris to pay them RM3,000 or face further assault by the group. This allegedly led to the victim handing over RM650 in cash and the key to his motorcycle to one of the accused, Amierul. On the third charge, all the accused, along with two others still at large, were jointly accused of wrongfully confining the victim. All eight had pleaded guilty before magistrate Atifah Hazimah Wahab to the three charges on April 25. In separate proceedings before magistrate Nur Fatin Farid today, the seven men also changed their pleas to not guilty on a fourth charge of voluntarily causing hurt to the same victim, along with one other accomplice still at large. The seven men had pleaded guilty to the fourth charge before Atifah on April 25. All the alleged offences were said to have been committed at a flat in Plentong, Masai, between 10pm and 4am, from April 18 to 19. The first three charges were framed under Sections 506, 384 and 342 of the Penal Code respectively, while the fourth charge under Section 323 of the same Code. The offences carry penalties of imprisonment of up to 10 years, or a fine, or both, upon conviction. Syamsul was represented by counsel Nurul Nadia Yunos, Amierul by T Haressh, Aqmal by Khairulazwad Sariman and Rushdi by Syahmi Nawawi. The prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutors Nik Noratini Nik Azman and Nur Fatihah Nizam. Both Shaarmini and Fatin fixed July 17 for the next mention of the case, submission of documents, and for the accused who are yet to be represented to appoint counsel.
Free Malaysia Today
2 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Taiwanese man dies after falling onto LRT tracks
Efforts to extract the deceased are ongoing, says the Selangor fire and rescue department. (JBPM pics) PETALING JAYA : A Taiwanese man died today when he was run over by a train after falling onto the tracks at the Pusat Bandar Puchong LRT station. The Selangor fire and rescue department said the victim was in his 60s and that efforts to extricate the deceased were ongoing. The department spokesman added that the man had fallen onto the tracks. FMT has reached out to police for further information on the incident. Separately, rail operator Rapid KL confirmed the incident at the station along the Sri Petaling LRT line and said services have been suspended at the Bandar Puteri, Taman Perindustrian Puchong, Pusat Bandar Puchong and IOI Puchong Jaya stations. Bus services have been activated as an alternative for passengers. Rapid KL also said trains coming from the Putra Heights station would turn back at the Puchong Perdana station. Meanwhile, trains arriving from the Sentul Timur station will turn back at the Kinrara BK5 station. In February, a blind elderly man died when he was struck by a train after losing balance and falling onto the tracks at the Titiwangsa LRT station. Prasarana Malaysia Bhd later said it planned to install platform sensors at LRT stations to enhance passenger safety, particularly for people with disabilities. Prasarana also said then that it would begin installing platform screen doors at LRT stations, similar to those used in MRT stations.
