Eleven Uighur men from China pleaded not guilty in the Magistrate's Court in Kuala Lumpur today for entering the country without valid travel documents.

Zakaria Arman, Salehudin Ali, Jaefar Amin, Osman Abbas, Alim Osman, Asen Ziyali, Taher Kasim, Ibrahim Rexiti, Nurudin Muhammad, Abdul Kader and Yusof Ahmed, aged between 20 and 40, pleaded not guilty to the charge read out to them before magistrate Zuhairi Rosli.

All the accused allegedly committed the offence at the Sentul police station compound at 10.50am on Jan 31.

The charge, under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/1963, punishable under Section 6(3) of the same act, carries a maximum fine of RM10,000 or a jail term of up to five years or both and whipping not exceeding six strokes upon conviction.

The court fixed May 31 for mention of the case.

Deputy public prosecutor Najwa Bustamam appeared for the prosecution, while the men were represented by lawyers Zainal Omar, Fahmi Abd Moin, Ilyani Khuzairy and Raimi Ab Rahim.

- Bernama