JOHOR BARU: Two men have been arrested for human trafficking during a raid at two houses in Taman Abad and Taman Century, here.
Johor police chief Comm Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat said the police have also managed to rescue four disabled Chinese nationals, who had been forced by the syndicate to beg for money around the city centre.
“The raid was conducted on Monday (Jan 22) between 8pm and 11.45pm by state police's Anti-Vice Gambling and Secret Societies Division (D7).
“The team has managed to arrest two local men, aged 39 and 79, who have been involved in the human trafficking syndicate that exploits disabled Chinese nationals to beg in the city.
“We have managed to rescue two men and two women aged between 36 and 61 during the operation,” he said in a statement here on Tuesday (Jan 23).
The team has also managed to confiscate six mobile phones, two vehicles, and cash worth RM15,094.
Investigations revealed that the duo is acting as the transporter and the provider of the place for the victims to stay, he added.
“It is also revealed that each victim can earn up to RM500 per person a day, and all of them have been begging for money in the city for the past six months.
“The duo will be brought to the Magistrate Court for the remand application, while the four victims will be placed under temporary protection to help with the investigation,” he said.
The case is being investigated under Section 14 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (Atipsom) Act 2007, which carries a minimum of five years in jail up to life imprisonment and whipping upon conviction.
Those with information on human trafficking activities are urged to call their nearest police station or the Johor Police Hotline at 07-221 2999 or 07-225 4677.
