LAWAS: A 30-year-old woman was charged at the Lawas district office on Friday with forcing her underage daughter into prostitution in April this year.
The woman was jointly charged with a karaoke centre operator, 45, under Section 372(1)(a) of the Penal Code, which carries the maximum 15 years’ jail and whipping and a fine upon conviction.
According to the charge, the two women were accused of prostituting the 14-year-old victim at a hotel here at about 3am in April.
Clad in orange lock-up uniform, both of the accused nodded their head when the charge was read. No plea was recorded.
Second-class magistrate Keli Mareng later set bail at RM8,000 with two sureties for both accused.
He also ordered both women to report to the Lawas district Criminal Investigation Department office once a week.
The women were also ordered to refrain from establishing any forms of communications with the victim until the disposal of the case.
Lawas CID chief Assistant Superintendent Raduwan Nawawi prosecuted while both accused were represented by counsel Willie Liau.
Police also arrested two men, aged 23 and 29, in connection with the case. Both men have been remanded for a week.
State CID chief Datuk Dev Kumar had said all investigation officers in the state have been instructed to treat sexual crimes cases especially involving children, seriously.
“We are committed to arresting and charging (these suspects) before the remand expires in relation to cases involving sexual crimes against children,” he said.