ATTORNEY GENERAL’S CHAMBERS
PRESS RELEASE
THURSDAY, 6th NOVEMBER 2025
BANGLADESHI NATIONAL SENTENCED FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING
Mahedi Hasan, a 44-year-old Bangladeshi national, pleaded guilty on 30 September 2025 to three counts of trafficking in persons offences. Two charges were brought under Section 4 of the Trafficking and Smuggling of Persons Order, 2004 for offences committed in 2018, while the third charge was brought under Section 5(1) of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, Chapter 230 for an offence committed in 2019. The prescribed penalties for these offences include imprisonment for a term of not less than 4 years, but not exceeding 30 years, fines not exceeding $1,000,000, and, whipping.
In delivering the sentence, the Honourable Judicial Commissioner Muhammed Faisal bin PDJLD DSP Haji Kefli observed that the Defendant's conduct exhibited serious aggravating features; in which victims were deliberately recruited through deception and lured by false promises of stable and well-paid employment in Brunei Darussalam. The Defendant exercised exploitative control over the victims, confiscating their passports and demanding monthly payments under false pretense of legal requirement and repatriation as well as deploying them to various workplaces often with meagre or no salary.
The Court further emphasised that the offences were not isolated but formed part of a repeated pattern of criminal conduct over a significant period of time, revealing a calculated scheme rather than a momentary lapse. This pattern involved multiple victims who had placed their trust in the Defendant, having left their families and incurred debts in hopes of improving their future. The Defendant's action also undermined the integrity of Brunei Darussalam's labour and immigration systems. Given the gravity of the deception and exploitation involved, the Honourable Court held that a substantial custodial sentence and a strong deterrent punishment were warranted. Following that, the Honourable Judical Commissioner sentenced the Defendant to a total of 5 years' imprisonment, a fine of BND$50,000 in default of 50 months' imprisonment and 6 strokes of whipping.
Deputy Public Prosecutors Hajah Siti Mu'izzah binti Haji Sabli and DPP Syazwani binti Jumat represented the Public Prosecutor and counsels from Messrs Daud Ismail & Company for the Defendant.
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Mahedi Hasan, seorang warganegara Bangladesh berumur 44 tahun, telah mengaku bersalah pada 30 September 2025 atas tiga pertuduhan kesalahan pemerdagangan orang. Dua pertuduhan telah dikemukakan di bawah Bab 4 Perintah Pemerdagangan dan Penyeludupan Orang, 2004 bagi kesalahan yang dilakukan pada tahun 2018, sementara pertuduhan ketiga dikemukakan di bawah Bab 5(1) Akta Anti-pemerdagangan Orang, Penggal 230 bagi kesalahan yang dilakukan pada tahun 2019. Hukuman yang diperuntukkan bagi kesalahan-kesalahan tersebut termasuklah hukuman penjara bagi tempoh tidak kurang daripada 4 tahun tetapi tidak melebihi 30 tahun, denda tidak melebihi $1,000,000, serta sebatan.
Dalam menjatuhkan hukuman, Yang Arif Pesuruhjaya Kehakiman Muhammed Faisal bin PDJLD DSP Haji Kefli menegaskan bahawa tingkah laku Defendan menunjukkan factor-faktor yang memberatkan; di mana mangsa-mangsa telah direkrut secara sengaja melalui penipuan dan diperdaya dengan janji palsu mengenai peluang pekerjaan yang stabil dan bergaji lumayan di Negara Brunei Darussalam. Defendan telah mengeksploitasi mangsa-mangsa tersebut dengan merampas pasport mereka serta menuntut bayaran bulanan atas alasan palsu kononnya sebagai keperluan undang-undang dan bagi tujuan penghantaran pulang. Defendan juga telah menempatkan mereka di pelbagai tempat kerja, sering kali dengan bayaran yang amat sedikit atau tanpa gaji sama sekali.
Mahkamah selanjutnya menegaskan bahawa kesalahan-kesalahan tersebut bukanlah kejadian terpencil tetapi merupakan sebahagian daripada corak perlakuan jenayah yang berulang dalam tempoh masa yang panjang, menunjukkan suatu rancangan yang dirancang dengan teliti dan bukannya kealpaan sementara. Corak tersebut melibatkan ramai mangsa yang telah meletakkan kepercayaan mereka kepada Defendan, setelah meninggalkan keluarga masing-masing dan menanggung hutang dengan harapan untuk memperbaiki masa depan mereka. Tindakan Defendan itu juga menjejaskan integriti sistem buruh dan imigresen Negara Brunei Darussalam. Memandangkan keseriusan penipuan dan eksploitasi yang terlibat, Mahkamah memutuskan bahawa hukuman penjara yang berat serta hukuman pencegahan yang tegas adalah wajar. Sehubungan itu, Yang Arif Pesuruhjaya Kehakiman telah menjatuhkan hukuman terhadap Defendan dengan hukuman penjara selama 5 tahun, denda sebanyak BND$50,000 dengan hukuman penjara selama 50 bulan sekiranya gagal membayar denda tersebut serta 6 kali sebatan.
Timbalan Pendakwa Raya Hajah Siti Mu'izzah binti Haji Sabli dan Timbalan Pendakwa Raya Syazwani binti Jumat telah mewakili Pendakwa Raya dan peguam-peguam daripada Tetuan Daud Ismail Company bagi pihak Defendan.
-TAMAT-
