Four Indonesians Charged in Manjung Over Smuggling of 104 Migrants

MANJUNG, Sept 14 — Four Indonesian men were charged in the Sessions Court today in connection with two separate human smuggling operations involving 102 Indonesian migrants and two Vietnamese nationals off the coast of Perak last month.

Boat skipper Adi Warman, 36, along with his assistants Gading, 31, and Rafiernanda, 19, nodded in understanding after their joint charge was read before Sessions Court Judge Azizah Ahmad.

The trio is accused of jointly smuggling 64 Indonesian migrants—comprising 39 men and 25 women—approximately 0.3 nautical miles off Pulau Talang in the Manjung district at around 4:30 am on Aug 18.

In a separate case before the same court, another boat assistant, 30-year-old Yunus Saputra, was charged with smuggling 40 migrants, comprising 38 Indonesians and two Vietnamese nationals.

Yunus is alleged to have smuggled the group, consisting of 28 men and 12 women, near Pantai Hutan Kuari Sungai Batu in Manjung at about 8:00 am on the same date.

No pleas were recorded from any of the accused as the charges fall under the jurisdiction of the High Court.

All charges were framed under Section 26A of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (Act 670), read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code, which provides for a maximum prison sentence of 20 years, a fine, or both upon conviction.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Anisah Pisol did not offer bail, as the charges fall under the non-bailable provisions of the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA).

All four accused were unrepresented. The court fixed Oct 27 for next case mention.

–NMT