Public interest must guide sentencing, balancing deterrence with the personal circumstances of the accused, particularly in cases involving multiple charges arising from a single transaction.

JUDGMENT

Azmi Abdullah J:

Introduction

[1] The accused Soleh Ahmad was imposed with 2 charges (in case numbers DA-45SOM-21-04/2024 and DA-45SOM-22-04/2024) both under s 26H of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 whilst the accused Dil Muhammod face a single charge (a joint charge in case No: DA-45SOM-22-04/2024 with Soleh Ahmad) under the same section of the same Act. The charges read as follows:

DA-45SOM-21-04/2024

Bahawa kamu pada 3 December 2023 jam lebih kurang 1.00 petang, Mahang, Kok Lanas, di dalam Jajahan Kota Bharu, di dalam Negeri Kelantan telah melindungi 13 orang migran lelaki warganegara Bangladesh iaitu:

Oleh yang demikian, kamu telah melakukan kesalahan yang boleh dihukum di bawah s 26H Akta Antipemerdagangan Orang dan Antipenyeludupan Migran 2007.

Hukuman: 26H Akta tersebut

Sekiranya disabitkan dengan kesalahan hendaklah dikenakan hukuman penjara selama tempoh tidak melebihi sepuluh tahun, dan boleh juga dikenakan denda, atau kedua-duanya.

DA-45SOM-22-04/2024 - Amended Charge

"Bahawa kamu secara bersama-sama pada 3 December 2023 jam lebih kurang 2.00 petang bertempat di sebuah rumah beralamat PT 2965, Taman SP Mahang, 16450 Ketereh, di dalam Jajahan Kota Bharu, di dalam Negeri Kelantan telah didapati melindungi (5) orang migran warganegara Myanmar yang diseludup seperti di Lampiran A.

Oleh yang demikian kamu telah melakukan suatu kesalahan s 26H Akta Antipemerdagangan Orang dan Antipenyeludupan Migran 2007 yang boleh dihukum di bawah seksyen yang sama dan dibaca bersama s 34 Kanun Keseksaan.

LAMPIRAN A

Hukuman: Seksyen 26H Akta tersebut

Sekiranya disabitkan dengan kesalahan hendaklah dikenakan hukuman penjara selama tempoh tidak melebihi sepuluh tahun, dan boleh juga dikenakan denda, atau kedua-duanya.

[2] After the charges were read and explained to both Soleh Ahmad and Dil Muhammod, and after having understood the charges, both pleaded guilty. After they were explained the consequences of their plea and having understood them, both maintained their guilty plea.

[3] After the facts of the case were read and explained to the both of them and after having understood them, both admitted to those facts, the court thereafter convicted them.

[4] Upon the 2 accused pleading guilty to the charges, and hearing the mitigation submission presented by counsel for both accused, and hearing the aggravating submission presented by the Deputy Public Prosecutor, this court handed down these sentences:

Soleh Ahmad - 3 years imprisonment for each charge with the sentences to run concurrently from the date of arrest (3 December 2023).

Dil Muhammod - 30 months imprisonment from the date of arrest (3 December 2023).

The UNHCR cards are returned to both accused.

Handphones and sim cards are seized.

[5] The prosecution being dissatisfied with the sentences handed down by this court has now lodged appeals to the court of Appeal against this court's decision pertaining to the sentences.

Facts Of The Case

DA-45SOM-21-04/2024

[6] On 3 December 2023 at about 1300 hrs, the complainant ASP G/15018 Mohd Said bin Mamat with a team of policemen apprehended 1 male migrant being Soleh Ahmad Habes Ahmad (NO. UNHCR: 354-14C08538) at a grocery shop bearing the address of Maataq Enterprise, Kg Kok Lanas, Ketereh, Kelantan.

[7] Soleh Ahmad guided the team to the house No PT 3027, Tmn SP Mahang, 16450 Ketereh, Kelantan. At this house the complainant discovered 13 male Bangladeshi citizens. Upon an examination of these 13 migrants it was discovered that they do not have valid travelling documents to enter Malaysia. The complainant then arrested all of them as per Kok Lanas Report 1733/23.

[8] The case was investigated by ASP Mohd Ridzuan bin Mohammad, the Senior Criminal Investigating Officer of the Criminal Investigation Department at IPD Kota Bharu who discovered that:

8.1 Soleh Ahmad has rented the house PT 3027 with the rental of RM450.00 per month. The statement taken from the owner has confirmed that the house was advertised for rent an