Updated version Former production house manager Haslinda Merican and businessman Mohd Amin Jamadi were found guilty for "hiring artistes for sex" by the Kuala Lumpur sessions court today.

Haslinda and Amin were sentenced to 10 months' jail and fined RM5,000 each, but the prison sentence is stayed pending appeal to the High Court.

The charge under Sec 16 (1)(K) of the Women and Girls Protection Act 1973 carries a maximum fine of RM10,000, five years' jail term or both.

Merican and Amin were jointly charged with acting as intermediaries for four unnamed artistes aged 18 to 35 to be engaged in prostitution.

They committed the offence in Ming Court Hotel, Jalan Ampang on June 27, 1995 and their trial began on Nov 13, 1995.

Presiding judge Zura Yahya, while reading out the judgment, said that the prosecution provided evidence that proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Haslinda and Amin were indeed guilty as charged.

When pleading in mitigation, defence counsel Mohd Radzuan Ibrahim pointed out that since the beginning of the trial, Haslinda had failed in all her business dealings due to the damage done to her reputation.

"The accused has already gone through enough suffering and punishment in lieu of the court's punishment. She has done good to the country while serving in the broadcasting industry and took part in a tourism mission to bring Malaysia to the world.

While pleading for Amin, Radzuan stated that he was the sole bread-winner in a family with three children.

The judge was also told to take into consideration that Amin had promoted water sports both at state and national levels.

Radzuan added that both Haslinda and Amin were first-time offenders.

Deputy public prosecutor Kamaruzamman Abdul Jalil stated that the accused were not repentant and had in fact been involved with business dealings during the five-year trial.

He claimed that Haslinda had organised a concert of Bollywood artistes while Amin had managed to organise a bicycle race in Langkawi.