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Bird's nest factory owner, HR manager remanded for seven days
Published:  Mar 29, 2017 2:21 PM
Updated: Aug 23, 2023 4:41 AM

Editor's Note: On July 1, 2019, Albert Tei was granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) by the Semenyih Sessions Court.

The owner of the Maxim Birdnest factory in Klang has been remanded for seven days by a magistrate's court in Klang for him to assist in investigations into alleged human trafficking activities.

Utusan Online reported that magistrate Nor Asma Ahmad granted the order against the owner and a 29-year-old woman, who has been identified as Maxim's human resources manager. 

They were arrested last night after a multi-agency raid on the five-storey factory premises located at Lorong Gedung Nenas 1, Klang.

The report did not name the suspect but Malaysiakini has previously identified him as 29-year-old Albert Tei.

According to the report, both suspects are being investigated under Section 12 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007.

A multi-agency team comprising more than 50 officers yesterday conducted a raid of more than 10 hours on the factory and rescued 156 foreign workers, the majority of whom are Indonesians, with the rest being from Myanmar.

Police had said there were also 17 other Malaysian workers at the factory.

Among others, it has been reported that the workers were forced to work long hours and their wages often arbitrarily docked.

When contacted, Klang Utara district police chief Mohd Yusoff Mamat said the police will be focusing their investigations on allegations of human trafficking, while two other unidentified staff who were also arrested, were handed over to the Immigration Department. 

It is understood that investigations are also ongoing under the Immigration Act 1963, Passports Act 1966 and the Employment Act 1955. 

Two staff released on police bail

In a related development, sources told Malaysiakini that the two staff detained by the Immigration Department have been released on police bail with one surety each.

"We will wait for investigations to be completed and the decision by Attorney-General’s Chambers (to prosecute or otherwise)," said the source.

From the 156 foreign workers rescued, the source also said a group has been taken to the Bukit Jalil immigration detention depot while awaiting deportation.

The exact figure remains unclear but it is learnt that the remaining workers have been taken to a government shelter home.

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