by Sarban Singh

SEREMBAN, MALAYSIA - A 44-year-old Singaporean has claimed trial at the Sessions Court to trafficking six Filipinas into the country for vice activities.

Cho Peng Lai is believed to be the second person in the country to be charged under the Anti-Trafficking In Persons Act 2007 which came into force late last year.

He allegedly committed the offence at a rented semi-detached house in Taman Bukit Blossom near here on Oct 15.

Judge Zamri Abu Bakar ordered the case to be re-mentioned on Dec 1 to allow Cho to engage a counsel.

If found guilty, Cho can be jailed up to 15 years and fined.

Zamri set bail at RM100,000 ($40,950) in two sureties.

State Immigration enforcement head Rusli Mokhtar applied for a protection order from the magistrate's court to allow the victims to remain in the country for the duration of the trial and to appear as witnesses.

Immigration records showed that Cho travelled regularly to Malaysia.

The first person to be charged under the Act was 32-year-old Indian national Punitha Raja who had promised her fellow Indian national a job as a domestic maid but ended up prostituting her.

Punitha, who was charged on Dec 22 last year, was jailed eight years.