Kuala lumpur: Two men, including a Rohingya individual, were charged in the Kemaman Sessions Court with the smuggling of a Myanmar migrant.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the accused, Mohamad Ismail Mohamad Siddik, 32, and Noor Effendy Yusoh @ Zakaria, 41, appeared before Judge Wan Suhaila Mohd. They acknowledged understanding the charges, but no plea was recorded as the matter falls under the jurisdiction of the High Court.

The charges against the duo stem from an incident on April 24, where they allegedly smuggled a Myanmar national, a man in his 20s, near Kilometre 255.3 of the East Coast Expressway 2 (LPT2) at Perasing, heading towards Kuala Lumpur, around 11.30 am.

The men are facing charges under Section 26A of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007. If convicted, they could face up to 20 years in prison and a fine, or both.

Bail was denied for both accused, and the court has set August 18 for the next mention of the case. The prosecution was represented by Deputy Public Prosecutors Ahmad Hafizudin Manjur Ahmad and Noradila Abdul Latif, while the accused were without legal representation.