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JOHOR BAHRU, March 13 (Bernama) -- A technician was sentenced by the Sessions Court here today to a total of 18 years’ imprisonment and 24 strokes of the cane after pleading guilty to 10 charges involving baby trafficking for exploitation, sexual assault and producing child sexual abuse material two years ago.
Muhammad Imran Abdullah, 30, had pleaded guilty to the charges read separately before judges Mohd Zamir Suhaimee, Madinah Zainol and Nor Aziati Jaafar.
For the baby trafficking case, Muhammad Imran was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment for each of three charges of trafficking two five-day-old baby girls and a seven-month-old baby boy for exploitation in unlawful activities.
The offences were committed at Taman Melor, Taman Kota Masai and Taman Scientex, Pasir Gudang, between 9 pm on March 11 and noon on Nov 24, 2024.
The charges were framed under Section 14 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (ATIPSOM), read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code.
In a separate court, the accused, who is also a father of three, faced two charges of physically assaulting a five-year-old child, and was also charged with producing child sexual abuse material by recording a video of the victim during the act.
The offence was committed on April 5, 2024, between 10.30 am and 11 am in a bedroom at a house in Kampung Pasir here.
For the offences, Madinah sentenced the accused to a total of 10 years’ imprisonment and 12 strokes of the cane after he was found guilty under Sections 14(a) and 14(b) as well as Section 5 of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017.
Meanwhile, before Judge Nor Aziati, the accused also pleaded guilty to two charges under Section 14(a) of the same Act for physically assaulting two children aged between six and seven years.
He was also charged under Section 5 of the same Act for producing child sexual abuse material by recording videos of the two victims during the acts.
The offences were committed around Kampung Pasir Putih, Pasir Gudang, at about 11 am on the same day, and Nor Aziati sentenced him to a total of 18 years’ imprisonment and 12 strokes of the cane.
The court ordered all prison sentences to run concurrently, resulting in a total sentence of 18 years’ imprisonment, commencing from the date of arrest on July 19, 2025, along with 24 strokes of the cane.
The court also ordered the accused to undergo rehabilitation counselling during imprisonment and to remain under police supervision for two years after his release.
The prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutors Nur Diyana Zubir, Nor Fadilah Johanuddin and Nur Farah Wahida Shahudin, while the accused was represented by lawyers Mohamed Imran Mohamed Sam and Haziq Ishak.
Earlier, the accused pleaded for leniency, citing that he has three young children and elderly parents to support, and expressed remorse for his actions.
However, the judges emphasised that public interest must take precedence over personal interests, taking into account the trauma experienced by the young victims and the seriousness of the offences committed.
-- BERNAMA
