A 44-YEAR-old single mother was charged in the Ipoh Sessions Court on Tuesday with trafficking her biological daughter for the purpose of sexual exploitation.
The woman, whose name was withheld to protect the victim’s identity, is accused of committing the offence at a house in Taman Sentosa 2, Sitiawan, between 4 September 2024 and 7 June 2025.
Sinar Harian cited that according to the first charge, she allegedly used force to compel her 21-year-old daughter to work as a sex worker. The offence falls under Section 12 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (ATIPSOM), which carries a penalty of up to 20 years' imprisonment and a fine upon conviction.
She also faces a second charge under Section 14 of the same act, for allegedly trafficking the same daughter when she was still a minor, aged 17, in 2022. The alleged offences were committed at the same address between 2022 and 3 September 2023.
If convicted on the second charge, the accused faces life imprisonment or a minimum of five years in prison, along with the possibility of whipping.
The woman pleaded not guilty to both charges before Judge Azizah Ahmad.
Bail was set at RM7,000 for each charge with one surety, with the condition that the accused reports monthly to the nearest police station and refrains from contacting prosecution witnesses, including her two other children aged 16 and 19.
However, the court granted her limited access to meet those two children, provided a police investigator is present.
The case is scheduled for mention on 31 July to allow the accused to appoint legal counsel.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nurul Hidayu Zakaria led the prosecution. The accused appeared in court unrepresented. - June 24, 2025
