KUALA LUMPUR, May 30 -- A couple accused of trafficking Indonesian women for forced labour pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court in Butterworth yesterday and were granted bail totalling RM240,000.

National daily Utusan Malaysia reported that Chan Koon Pheng, 40, and her husband, Tan Kok Teong, 42, entered their pleas after the charges were read before Judge Ooi Sheow Yean.

According to the charges, Chan and Tan face nine counts of trafficking Indonesian women for the purpose of forced labour between August 2025 and May this year at several locations in the North-east, South-west and Central Seberang Perai districts.

They were charged under Section 12 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007, which c...