A hotel manager pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here today to four counts of trafficking in Thai women for sexual exploitation, since 2014.

Ling Ong Weng, 34, was charged with trafficking in Nutsara Hemman, Nipaporn Sananmueang, Sirikon Maitoklang and Patcharin Polkan, aged between 23 and 43, for sexual exploitation.

He allegedly committed the offences at the Ritz Garden Hotel, Garden Reflexology, 1st Floor, Lot 5260 and 5261, Jalan Lumut, Seri Manjung between 2014 and January 20, 2017.

The charges against Ling were made under Section 12 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (ATIPSOM) Act 2007, which carries a jail term of up to 15 years and fine, if convicted.

Judge Norashima Khalid set bail at RM10,000 on each charge in one surety, and fixed May 26 for mention.

The prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutor Muhammad Fauzi Md Yusof, while the accused was represented by lawyer Kartini Mansor.

At the same court, a married couple, Lee Wai Keong, 41, and Ho Siew Hong, 38, pleaded not guilty to two counts of human trafficking for exploitation as forced labour.

Lee and Ho were charged with trafficking in for exploitation as forced labour Indonesians Layam, 32, and Leonardo Davincie, 28, at the Fancy Mee Restaurant, No. 1, Taman Lekir Baru, Jalan Raja Omar, Sitiawan between May 2, 2015, and March 3 this year.

The couple was charged under Section 13 of the ATIPSOM Act 2007, read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code, which carries an imprisonment for up to 20 years and a fine, if convicted.

Norashima set bail at RM10,000 per person for each charge in one surety, and fixed May 26 for mention.

-- BERNAMA