CONTRACTOR JAILED EIGHT YEARS FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING                

        GEORGE TOWN (Malaysia), Aug 12 (Bernama) -- A contractor was sentenced to
eight years' jail by the Sessions Court here Friday after he was found guilty of
engaging in human trafficking of an Indonesian maid two years ago.
    
    However, judge Roslan Hamid allowed a stay of the sentence on A. Vealu, 41,
pending an appeal at the High Court and set bail at RM60,000 (USD19,971)
(USD1=RM3.00) with two sureties.
    
    When handing down the sentence, Roslan said he took into account public
interest and Vealu's responsibility in having to support his family.
    
    Vealu, 41, and his wife, S. Poongavanam, 36, together with several others,
were charged with trafficking Win Faidaa, 26, for the purpose of exploitation
under Section 13 of the Anti-Human Trafficking Act 2007, which provides for jail
up to 20 years and fine, if convicted.
    
     The were charged with committing the offence at a flat house at Jalan
Penawar Satu, Sri Wangsa Satu, Jelutong here between 10am on Jan 25 and 10.30am
on Sept 13, 2009.
    
    
    Poogavanam had pleaded guilty and was sentenced to eight years' jail.

        Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohd Firdaus Hanafiah prosecuted, while Vealu
was represented by lawyer Mohd Fauzi Abdullah.
    
    -- BERNAMA