KUALA LUMPUR: A female Indian national was today charged on three counts of trafficking three of her fellow citizens last month.
L. Lova Venkata, 28, pleaded not guilty to all charges which were read separately in Tamil in front of Judge Azura Alwi at the Sessions Court here. The jobless woman was charged with trafficking the women aged 28, 32 and 36, for the purpose of sexual exploitation in a hotel at KL Sentral, Jalan Thambipillay here at 12.05 am on Aug 16. She was charged under Section 12 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 which provides for a jail sentence of up to 15 years and fine, if found guilty.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Najwa Bistamam did not offer any bail as she said the case involved human trafficking and exploitation and bail could not be granted.
“The accused was also charged and sentenced on Aug 29 to two months’ jail by the Magistrate’s Court for the offence of entering Malaysia without valid travel documents,” Najwa said. Lova Venkata who was not represented by counsel did not submit an appeal but asked the court to inform her family of her detention.
