Harian Metro reported that immigration officer Hadi Mat Din, who has been suspended from duty, was jointly charged with conspiring to smuggle the six women at the car park of the Bukit Berapit immigration, customs, quarantine and security complex in Pengkalan Hulu, Perak, at 11.26am on March 9.

Teoh Boon Poh, 58, Chua Eng Keong, 47, and Thai national Sukree Awang, 48, were charged alongside Hadi.

They pleaded not guilty when the charges were read out before judicial commissioner Noor Ruwena Nurdin.

They were charged under Section 26A of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007, read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code.

If convicted, they face a jail term of not more than 20 years, a fine, or both.

The court fixed July 31 for remention and the submission of documents.