Haliza Palok, 55, pleaded not guilty after the charges were read to her before judge Thalha Bachok @ Embok Mok, Harian Metro reported.

Haliza is accused under Section 5(1)(c) of the Children and Young Persons (Employment) Act 1966 of trafficking a boy, aged between 10 and 12 years old, and a teenage girl between 13 and 15 years old, by exploiting them for illegal activities.

Haliza was also charged under Section 14 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 with trafficking in children, having allegedly committed the offence at Jalan Kargo 2, Senai Airport City, Senai, Johor, at 6.54pm on Dec 19, 2024.

For the first charge, she faces up to a year’s imprisonment, a RM5,000 fine or both, if convicted. On the second charge, she faces up to 30 years in jail and whipping, if found guilty.

The prosecution was led by immigration department deputy public prosecutor Tan Yen Thung, while lawyer Amarpreet Singh represented the accused.

The court allowed bail of RM17,000 for both charges with two sureties, and ordered Haliza to report to the Johor immigration department once a month, surrender her passport to the court and refrain from tampering with the prosecution witnesses.

It set Aug 27 for further mention of the case and discovery of documents.