Police Rescue 49 Indonesian Women From Human Trafficking Ring In Klang

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 17 (Bernama) -- Police raided 11 locations around Klang from Oct 10-13 and rescued 49 Indonesian women who are victims of a human trafficking syndicate.

Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (JSJ) director Datuk M. Kumar said they also arrested 14 individuals, including the mastermind of the syndicate, which was operating behind the guise of a foreign employment agency company.

"All those arrested - 11 Malaysians (eight men, three women) and three Indonesian women - aged between 27 and 47 were remanded until today," he said at a press conference here today.

According to Kumar, the women rescued were aged between 20 and 47, and some of them had been in the country for between five months and 13 years.

He said police also seized RM1.05 million in cash, 71 Indonesian passports and three vehicles during the raid.

He said the syndicate's modus operandi was to deceive victims with job offers in factories and private companies, and promised salaries between RM2,000 and RM3,000.

"However, upon arriving in Malaysia, the victims were confined in five houses and forced to work as housemaids, restaurant assistants and salon workers," he said.

According to him, the syndicate also controlled the victims' movements by sending and picking them up from their workplaces, in addition to withholding the promised wages.

"The victims were also threatened with harm if they tried escaping from home or the workplace," he said.

Kumar added that all the local suspects were released on police bail, while the foreign suspects were detained under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.

"The case is being investigated under Section 12 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (ATIPSOM), while all victims have been granted an Interim Protection Order (IPO) for 21 days," he said.

-- BERNAMA