Tumpat: Two men were charged in the Sessions Court here today with trafficking 12 migrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh last month. No plea was recorded from Mohd Rozi Isa, 48, and Solim Sultan Amin, 31, after the charge was read out before Judge Zulkpli Abdullah, as the case falls under the jurisdiction of the High Court.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mohd Rozi and Solim Sultan, who possess United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) cards, were charged with smuggling eight Myanmar nationals and four Bangladeshi migrants using a Perodua Bezza car in a bush area at Kampung Telaga Bata, Chabang Empat, Tumpat at 11 pm on March 25.

They were charged under Section 26A of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007, which provides for imprisonment of up to 20 years, and may also include a fine, or both, upon conviction. The prosecution was conducted by Deputy Public Prosecutor Siti Aiysha Na'ilah Harizan, while both accused were unrepresented. The court set May 21 for mention.