2 immigration officers freed of human trafficking charge

 

Immigration officers Shamsul Azizan (second from left) and Azani Ab Aziz (third from left) with their lawyers after the High Court acquitted them.

SHAH ALAM: The High Court here has acquitted two immigration officers of the charge of producing fraudulent travel documents to facilitate the smuggling of four Malaysians.

In acquitting Azani Ab Aziz, 46 and Shamsul Azizan 43, judge Abd Halim Aman said the prosecution had failed to make a prima facie case against the two.

The judge said the prosecution had also failed to call material witnesses to prove their case.

He said the charges against the two were defective as the alleged offence came under other laws such as the Penal Code, Immigration Act or Passports Act.

Azani and Shamsul were charged under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007.

The two were said to have issued Malaysian passports to Malaysians Chang Kai Ting, Tan Kok Chuan, Yee Tung Heng and Wong Kok Hang at the Kelana Jaya immigration office between June 16 and Dec 6, 2016.

They were accused of issuing passports with false information provided to the immigration office where they were stationed.

Counsel Harpal Singh submitted that the charge framed against the duo was for human trafficking but the passport holders were Malaysians, not foreigners.

Harpal was assisted by Nadia Syaza Rahizam while deputy public prosecutor Siti Ruvina Mohd Rawi prosecuted. - FMT