An influential Malaysian couple, who had the titles ‘Tan Sri’ and ‘Puan Sri’ and are accused of abusing their three Indonesian domestic workers, has been identified as Kenneth Eswaran, 58, and his wife Vivienne Ketheeswaran, 63.
The former president of the Malaysian Associated Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and his wife were charged with three counts of exploitation and forced labor under Section 12 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007, the China Press reported.
According to a previous report, the three women aged from 25 to 41 had been working at the suspects’ house in Country Heights, Kajang, for seven years, four years and six months, respectively.
The women have accused the couple of physical abuse – kicking them – and withholding their salaries and passports.
Both pleaded not guilty at the Klang Sessions Court on April 12.
The judge ordered the couple’s passports to be surrendered to the court and set bail at 50,000 ringgit (US$12,152) with one surety for each of them while awaiting the next court hearing on May 3.
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