SEREMBAN: The defence team representing a 51-year-old man charged with forcing a family of five to work in an oil palm plantation will file a representation to the Attorney-General's chambers to review the charges.
Lawyer M. Gobinathan, who is representing L. Jaya Seelen, said this to Sessions Court judge Surita Budin when the case came up for mention on Monday (Feb 13) morning.
"We received the relevant documents from the prosecution this (Feb 13) morning, but we are planning to file a representation regarding this case," he said.
Judge Surita agreed to the request and then fixed March 13 to hear the outcome of the representation. Hafizah Zainul Hashimi prosecuted.
On Jan 10, Jaya Seelen had claimed trial to five charges of human trafficking for labour exploitation when charged at the same court.
He had allegedly forced couple S. Veerasamy, 46; and A. Rajeswarii, 39; their daughters Anbarasi, 22; and Shasikala, 19; and son-in-law P. Aridasan, 30; to perform forced labour to pay off their debts.
Jaya Seelen, who was a supervisor at Ladang Bukit Tinggi Rompin in Jempol, had allegedly committed the offences between 2008 and Nov 11, 2021.
He was charged under Section 12 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act which carries a jail term of up to 15 years upon conviction.
The accused has since been out on a RM25,000 bail.
According to the police, Veerasamy lodged a report on Nov 17, 2021, alleging that he had been assaulted by the suspect and that they were forced to work in his plantation.
A police team from Bukit Aman rescued the family on March 26 the following year and placed them in a safe house.
The suspect was picked up the following day to assist in the probe.
