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PETALING JAYA: Police rescued 35 exploited migrant workers who had been held against their will in five separate raids in Melaka and Selangor.
Bukit Aman CID chief Huzir Mohamed said 32 Indonesian women and one Cambodian woman were rescued in Melaka Tengah in the raids, while two Indonesian women were rescued here.
The victims were between 18 and 40 years old.
They had been working as household cleaners at a cleaning services agency in Melaka since 2018 and were offered a salary of RM900-1200 per month.
“However, not all of them received the salary they were promised.
“They were kept locked up at home with their movements under strict control. They were also not allowed to use their mobile phones.
“All the rescued victims have been placed in a safe home in the meantime,” Huzir said in a statement today.
In the raids, the police detained three Malaysian women, aged 33 to 42, who are believed to be the employers, to assist in the investigations. They also arrested a Malaysian in his 40s.
The three women will face 35 charges under article 12 of the Anti-Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Act (Atipsom) of 2007, read in conjunction with article 34 of the Penal Code.
If convicted, they could face a maximum jail sentence of 15 years and a fine.
Meanwhile, the Malaysian man, who was an accomplice, will also be charged under article 12 of the Atipsom Act, read with article 109 of the Penal Code.
“In total, there are 70 charges that will be brought against the four detainees.
“All of them will be indicted in the Melaka Tengah Sessions Court tomorrow (December 21),” Huzir said.
