A Myanmar national has been charged in the Sessions Court with allegedly smuggling seven fellow Myanmar migrants along the North-South Expressway near the Menora Tunnel last month.
No plea was recorded from Zaw Zaw Aung, 35, after the charge was read before Judge Ainul Shahrin Mohamad, as the accused did not understand Bahasa Malaysia.
According to the charge, he allegedly smuggled seven migrants at Kilometre 261.9 of the North-South Expressway, southbound near the Menora Tunnel in Kinta, at about 12pm on July 13, 2026.
He was charged under Section 26A of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (ATIPSOM) Act 2007, read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code.
Deputy Public Prosecutor S. S. Pavitra did not offer bail, as the offence falls under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA), which does not allow bail.
The court fixed September 9 for case mention to allow for the appointment of a Myanmar interpreter.
In a separate proceeding before the Magistrate’s Court, the accused was also charged with being in Malaysia without a valid passport or travel documents at the same location, date and time.
The charge was brought under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/1963.
No plea was recorded on the immigration charge for the same reason, and the Magistrate’s Court set August 28 for the next mention pending the presence of a Myanmar interpreter.
