Former Melor assemblyman's wife freed from human trafficking charge

PUTRAJAYA: Siti Madinah Ilias Khan, wife of a former Melor assemblyman, had her acquittal from a charge of trafficking an Indonesian maid upheld after judge Datuk Seri Zakaria Sam who led a panel of three Court of Appeal judges struck out the prosecution's appeal.
"We find that the prosecution's appeal has no merit. The prosecution's appeal is dismissed," said Zakaria who sat together with Datuk Ahmadi Asnawi and Datuk Abdul Karim Abdul Jalil.
The panel upheld the decision of the Kota Baru Sessions Court in acquitting Siti Madinah of the charge at the end of the prosecution's case without her defence being called.
Siti Madinah, 56, was charged with trafficking Riamis, 42, for the purpose of exploitation by not paying the maid's salary for two years, besides inflicting injuries on her at her house in Taman Desa Telipot, Kota Bharu between Sept 2013 and May 26, 2015.
On June 20, 2016, the Sessions Court acquitted and discharged Siti Madinah from the charge without calling for her defence and the decision was upheld by the Kota Baru High Court.
Deputy public prosecutor Tetralina Ahmed Fauzi argued that Siti Madinah should be called to make her defence as there were elements of coercion based on the injuries suffered by the maid and the unpaid salary.
Lawyer Wan Rohimi Wan Daud, representing Siti Madinah, said there was no coercion or exploitation involved as Riamis herself had persuaded his client to allow her to stay and work in her house.
Siti Madinah is the wife of former Melor assemblyman Wan Ismail Wan Jusoh. — Bernama