Ooi being escorted out of Sessions Court.

BUTTERWORTH: A 47-year-old single parent, who was charged with four others with trafficking in children, had her bail reduced by the Sessions courts.

Ooi Ah Imm, from Nibong Tebal, who faces six counts had on Jan 25, together with Chin d/o Din Chun, 57, Lim Choon Liang, 63, Lim Soo Chin, 52, and Bahtiar Abas, 51, pleaded not guilty to trafficking the seven children, aged three months to five years, between 2008 and Jan 16 this year.

On Friday, Ooi's lawyer K. Supramaniam made separate requests in both courts for bail to be reduced, saying she was a single parent with a daughter who was pursuing her studies at a local university.

Sessions judge Meor Sulaiman Ahmad Tarmizi reduced Ooi's bail for three charges from RM150,000 to RM45,000 in one surety.

Meor Sulaiman also reduced bail for Bahtiar, who faces one charge and was not represented, from RM50,000 to RM15,000.

In another court, Sessions judge Nabisha Ibrahim reduced Ooi's bail for the other three charges from RM150,000 to RM60,000 in two sureties.

The other three accused - Chin, who faces six charges, Choon Liang, who faces four charges and Soo Chin, who faces a single charge, had posted bail several days after they were charged on Jan 25.

Ooi, Chin and Choon Liang were jointly charged with trafficking in a five-month old girl in Pantai Remis, Manjung, in Perak between Sept 8 last year and Jan 1.

They were also jointly charged with trafficking in a five-year old girl in Taman Bercham Baru in Ipoh, Perak, between Sept 30, 2008, and Jan 15, and selling a three-month old girl in Taman Desa Permai in Lunas, Kedah, between Nov 22 last year and Jan 16.

Ooi and Chin were jointly charged with trafficking a four-year old boy at a garage in Jalan Teluk Kumbar, Penang between Dec 28, 2009, and Jan 12, and for selling a three-year old boy in Taman Pura Jaya, in Taiping, Perak between July 14, 2010, and Jan 16.

Ooi, Choon Liang and Bahtiar were jointly charged with selling a four-month old boy in Taman Pelangi, Prai, near here, between Dec 24 last year and Jan 10.

Chin and Soo Chin were jointly charged with selling a three-month-old boy in Taman Duku, in Juru, Bukit Mertajam between Nov 27 last year and Jan 16.

Each offence under Section 14 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 carries a jail term of up to 20 years and a fine upon conviction.

Deputy public prosecutor Siti Aishah Ramlan prosecuted, while lawyers K.C. Ang, S. Anthonysamy and S. Parameswaran represented Chin, Choon Liang and Soo Chin respectively.

The courts fixed March 19 for the submission of documents.

• Travel Picks: Top 10 golf resorts around the world
• Chinese premier criticizes EU move on trade measures
• Justice Department opposes AMR's $20 million severance for CEO Horton
• News Corp to take charge of up to $1.4 billion this quarter
• Wall Street Week Ahead: Investors look for signs in the rally's break
• Unhappy with how your fave series is faring? Amazon gives you a say
• Visa, Mastercard ask U.S. court to declare card fees are lawful
• Wall Street posts first weekly loss since mid-April on Fed angst
• IMF's Lagarde escapes formal investigation in court
• Politics of development pays dividend
• A thematic play seen
• Sarawak counters hogging the limelight
• Getting GST acceptance will be tough
• A yen for the unloved dollar standard
• Bitten by the music bug

• Taiwan protests Philippine ships in disputed waters
• After Kabul attacks, 10,000 peace balloons
• Report: Google eyes emerging markets networks
• IMF chief avoids charges in French payout scandal
• Seven months after Sandy, New York beaches re-open

• Rosberg on pole for Monaco Grand Prix
• South Korea in seventh heaven
• Make betting legal, says top Indian body
• NBA: Pacers edge Heat to even series
• Arat: Istanbul bid to host the 2020 Olympic is about building bridges
• Golf: Two share lead at inaugural rain-hit Pure Silk LPGA
• Golf: Kuchar leads weather-hit Colonial
• Squash: Matthew offers a message with a warning
• Golf: Molinari leads but Ryder Cup colleagues crash out
• Tennis: Djokovic blocks Nadal path to Paris super eight
• MSSM meet: 15 records in five days augur well for M’sian athletics
• Indonesian Rexy's advise to M'sian team: Stick together as a family
• Yongbo: Beat us if you can, not good for China to win all the time
• Thai Ratchanok wins many hearts with her gritty display
• Squash:M'sian Nicol beats New Zealander in straight sets to reach last four

• Please wait.

• Malaysia a favourite of Muslim travellers
• Living through your midlife
• Who has the better chance of bagging that high-salary post?
• Big crowd at Pakatan rally at Dataran PJ (Live Updates)
• Sarawak counters hogging the limelight
• Klang Valley a haven for UOA Dev
• More can be done to promote private retirement scheme
• Painting of merry old couple covered up to prevent accident at Chew Jetty
• Saiful Bukhari is now a married man
• Travel Picks: Top 10 golf resorts around the world