FORMER Penang Front Party (PFP) chairman Datuk Ooi Khar Giap was sentenced to 12 years in prison after being found guilty of trafficking a woman for forced labour.
Judge Mazdi Abdul Hamid sentenced Datuk Ooi Khar Giap, 57, to six years in prison for each offence after finding him guilty.
The sentences were ordered to run concurrently which means that Ooi only needs to serve a six-year prison sentence.
“After examining the arguments from both sides, the court found that the defence failed to raise any reasonable doubt."
"The court decided that the prosecution had successfully proven the case beyond reasonable doubt and the accused was found guilty on both charges," he said in the judgment.
Ooi was convicted of exploiting Law Yih Yng, 36, for forced labour at Happy Food Court, Star Avenue Commercial Centre in Simpang Ampat between June and July 3, 2022.
He committed a similar offence at Jalan Kedah between July 7 and October 29, 2022.
The accused was found guilty under Section 12 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act (ATIPSOM) 2007 read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code, which provides for a prison sentence not exceeding 20 years and may also include a fine, if convicted.
The defence was represented by Eng Yuh Pei and Tan Jia Jing, who argued that there was no element of violence and injury to the victim, and the investigating officer confirmed that the victim felt safe while under the care of the accused.
Eng also requested the court to defer the sentence against the accused under Section 311 of the Criminal Procedure Code until the appeal decision is made in the High Court.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Lee Jun Keong argued that although the intention of rehabilitation might exist, the methods used still violate the law and are categorised as labour exploitation.
The accused, who has been awarded the title of Datuk since 2007.
Mazdi then granted a stay of execution on the condition that the notice of appeal must be filed today, in addition to setting a bail of RM40,000 for each case with two Malaysian sureties. – March 13, 2025
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