Couple face 12 charges of exploiting children (Updated)

IPOH: Two officials of a training centre were today charged with trafficking 12 girls aged between 11 and 13.
Muslim Ab Karim, 66, and his wife Zaleha Mohamad, 54, who are the chairman and treasurer respectively of Pusat Latihan Amal Bestari in Yan, Kedah claimed trial to the charges in the sessions court.
They were alleged to have forced children at the centre to sell items such as calendars, oils and herbal medicine around the country.
The offences were allegedly committed at No. 133, Jalan Perajurit Timur 9, Taman Syabas Baru, here between 11.15pm on Oct 7, and at Greentown Business Centre here at 1.45am on Oct 8 last year.
The charges, under Section 14 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007, carry a jail sentence of three to 20 years, and a fine.
When the charges were read out to them, Muslim looked on calmly but his wife, Zaleha had difficulty controlling her emotion and fought back tears.
Except for their lawyer, who had a brief conversation with them, the couple appeared not to have any relatives present.
Mohamad Abazafree Mohd Abbas and Nadia Zulkefli prosecuted while Shahril Adli Zain represented both the accused.
Mohamad Abazafree objected when Shahril asked for a RM10,000 bail for all the charges, citing health and age as mitigating factors.
Among the objections to bail were the number of charges in the current case and that the couple would also face similar charges in Kuantan, Raub and Kota Baru.
"The severity of the offence and the possibility of the couple influencing the children since the victims have gone back to their homes and were no longer living in shelter homes are among the other factors," Mohamad Abazafree added.
Judge Murtazadi Amran denied bail and set June 13 for mention.
In October last year, police and Welfare Department officials rescued 12 children suspected to have been exploited as beggars in Ipoh.
The children were found to have been forced to sell herbal medicine and religious calendars to the public.