The use of depositions in court for human trafficking offences in Malaysia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol11iss1pp232-245Abstract
Background and Purpose: Human trafficking is a serious global issue, including in Malaysia, where victims often comprise illegal immigrants, making them particularly vulnerable to exploitation. In 2010, section 61A was introduced through the Anti-Trafficking in Persons (Amendment) Act 2010 (Act A1385) to allow for the admissibility of depositions made by trafficked persons or smuggled migrants who cannot be found during court proceedings. With the introduction of this provision, human trafficking offences may be proven not only through the oral testimony of illegal immigrants in court but also by way of depositions, subject to the prescribed statutory conditions. This expands the modes of proof and addresses practical challenges in securing their physical presence during trial. However, the use of depositions raises important concerns relating to the accused’s right to a fair trial. This research aims to examine the legality of the use of depositions under section 61A of the ATIPSOM 2007 in proving human trafficking related offences.
Methodology: This research employed doctrinal legal research by conducting a thorough analysis of relevant laws, namely the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (ATIPSOM 2007) (Act 670), the Immigration Act 1959/63 (Act 155) and the Federal Constitution. In addition to statutory analysis, an examination of case law was undertaken to gain insights into the court’s stance on the use of depositions in human trafficking offences. Scholarly writings in this field were also examined to provide a thorough understanding of the subject.
Findings: The research found that section 61A of the ATIPSOM 2007 allows for the admissibility of depositions made by trafficked persons who cannot be found during court proceedings. The provision aims to ensure that crucial evidence is not lost due to the removal or unavailability of such persons. While the use of depositions has been debated for potentially infringing on the accused’s right to a fair trial under Article 5 of the Federal Constitution (FC) and compromising their right to equality under Article 8 of the FC, the Federal Court in Ketheeswaran Kanagaratnam & Anor v. Public Prosecutor [2024] 2 CLJ 341 upheld the constitutionality of section 61A of the ATIPSOM 2007.
Contributions: This research contributes to the corpus of legal knowledge on the use of depositions in court for human trafficking offences in Malaysia within the legal framework of the criminal justice system.
Keywords: Human trafficking, Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007, deposition, evidence, fair trial.
Cite as: Mohammed Na’aim, M. S., Nordin, R., & Rajamanickam, R. (2026). The use of depositions in court for human trafficking offences in Malaysia. Journal of Nusantara Studies, 11(1), 232-245. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol11iss1pp232-245
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