Children rescued from couple accused of exploitation

KUALA LUMPUR, June 1 – The police rescued five children aged 8 - 17, believed to be victims of trafficking, and arrested a husband and wife, aged 55 and 54, during a raid at a home in Taman Bukit Seputeh, yesterday.

Brickfields district police chief, ACP Anuar Omar, said the raid was conducted after an 18-year-old escaped the couple’s clutches and made a report.

“The complainant managed to run away yesterday at 10am and come to the police station to make a report,” he said.

The teenager alleged that he suffered beatings and exploitation at the hands of the Malaysian couple.

Early investigations found that the teenager and 16 other children were taken from an orphanage in Kulim, Kedah in 2017 and subsequently forced to do housework all day.

“14 children managed to escape because they couldn’t take the abuse anymore if they refused to follow instructions,” Anuar added in the statement today.

He said Police have applied for a further remand of the couple while the case is investigated under Section 14 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007.

-- BERNAMA