AN assistant superintendent and a police corporal were among five people charged at the Alor Star Sessions Court today with smuggling 119 migrants from Myanmar into Malaysia in May. 

Mohamad Faizal Ahmad Zaki, 37, and Mohd Razin Razali, 32, were alleged to have committed the offence at 1.9 nautical miles off Kuala Kedah waters near Alor Star at 9.30am on May 24. 

Auxiliary policeman Anas Hafizin Ahmad, 37, self-employed man Muhamad Aslam Osman, 29, and fisherman Ibrahim Dahamid, 38, were also charged with committing the same offence.

No plea was recorded as the case is under the High Court’s jurisdiction. 

Faizal and Razin have been charged under Section 26B(d) of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (Act 670), read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code. 

The two public officers, from the Special Branch E6 of the Kedah police contingent, may face life imprisonment and be liable for whipping if convicted. 

Anas, Aslam and Ibrahim, on the other hand, have been charged under Seksyen 26A of the same act and face a maximum jail term of 20 years, a fine, or both, if convicted. 

The proceedings were handled by deputy public prosecutor Zahruddin Mohammed Isa, Nor Syaliati Mohd Sobri and Nur Syifa Mohd Hamzah, while lawyer Ravi Shankar Gandhi represented Mohd Razin. 

The other suspects were not represented. 

Judge Noor Zaihan Mohamad Ali has set July 4 for remention. – Bernama, June 20, 2022.