4 Indonesians charged with smuggling 104 migrants

Four Indonesian nationals - Adi Warman, Gading, Rafiernanda, and Yunus Saputra - faced charges at the sessions court in Manjung. According to prosecutors, Warman, 36, and his assistants Gading, 31, and Rafiernanda, 19, were accused of smuggling 102 Indonesian migrants and two Vietnamese nationals last month. The alleged incident occurred at 4:30 am on August 18 when the group was allegedly brought from Pulau Talang, near Manjung district.

Additionally, Yunus Saputra, 30, was charged with a separate offense of smuggling 40 migrants, comprising 38 Indonesians and two Vietnamese nationals. This incident reportedly took place at 8 am on the same date near Pantai Hutan Kuari Sungai Batu in Manjung. No plea was entered by any of the accused as the charges fall under the jurisdiction of the High Court.

The offense is punishable under Section 26A of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007, combined with Section 34 of the Penal Code, which carries up to 20 years' imprisonment, a fine, or both upon conviction.

Deputy public prosecutor Anisah Pisol represented the prosecution, demanding no bail, citing the non-bailable nature of the offense under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012. The accused remained unrepresented, and the court set October 27 as the next case mention.