Two face trafficking charge in Ipoh over alleged sale of baby girl

IPOH: Two women have claimed trial at the Sessions Court here to a human trafficking charge for allegedly selling a nine-day-old baby girl more than two years ago.

Noor Azlina Mohd Nasir, 41, and D. Murugamal, 52, pleaded not guilty to the act, said to have been committed at a car park near a private hospital in Manjung at about noon on June 18, 2020.

They were charged under Section 14 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (Atipsom) Act 2007, which carries a minimum of five years in jail up to life imprisonment and whipping, upon conviction.

DPP Evangelin Simon Silvaraj sought bail to be set at RM15,000 for each accused.

Lawyer Mohd Firdaus Mohd Farouk said Noor Azlina, a nurse at a hospital in Alor Star, was married with five children while Murugamal, a housewife with no children, suffered from heart problems and diabetes.

“Both of them are on police bail and have been cooperating.

“I hope the court will set a low bail, as this is to ensure they attend court, not to punish or burden them at this stage,” he said.

Judge Ainul Shahrin Mohamad set bail at RM10,000 for each accused with one surety and set Feb 24 for mention.