Confined without payment: Cops rescue 35 women from cleaning firm
Police have rescued 35 women from a cleaning firm that hired them with the promise of wages between RM900 and RM1,200 but instead ended up confining them to a house and paid them nothing.
The police said, in a series of five raids, they rescued 32 Indonesians and a Cambodian in Malacca and another two Indonesians in Petaling Jaya, Selangor. They were aged between 18 and 40.
"All of the rescued victims said they worked for a cleaning agency and...
Police have rescued 35 women from a cleaning firm that hired them with the promise of wages between RM900 and RM1,200 but instead ended up confining them to a house and paid them nothing.
The police said, in a series of five raids, they rescued 32 Indonesians and a Cambodian in Malacca and another two Indonesians in Petaling Jaya, Selangor. They were aged between 18 and 40.
"All of the rescued victims said they worked for a cleaning agency and provided house-to-house cleaning services in Malacca.
"All the workers were found to have not been paid and were even confined to a house with their movements monitored and access to a mobile phone denied.
"All of them are now placed at a safe house," Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department director Huzir Mohamed said in a statement.
He said police also arrested three Malaysian women aged between 33 and 42 during the raids. They were believed to be the employers of the victims.
Huzir added that a Malaysian man in his 40s was also arrested.
He said the case was investigated under Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (Atipsom).
Huzir added that the investigation papers were submitted to the Attorney-General's Chambers on Dec 16 and the deputy public prosecutor has agreed to bring 35 charges against the three Malaysian women.
They will be charged under Section 12 of Atipsom for human trafficking and face up to 15 years in prison and a fine.
Meanwhile, the Malaysian man will face 70 charges under the same section.
The four will be charged at the Melaka Tengah Sessions Court tomorrow.
"The Royal Malaysian Police reminds the community not to exploit any persons for profit.
"Stern action will be taken against anyone who is believed to be involved in the crime of trafficking and smuggling of migrants," Huzir said.
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