Bukit Aman: Trip for real estate deal, trafficking probe ongoing
KUALA LUMPUR: Police confirmed that a former deputy minister embroiled in a human trafficking investigation had been to Myanmar for real estate investment purposes.
Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) director Comm Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain said however, police are still investigating Datuk Dr Mashitah Ibrahim in relation to alleged human trafficking activities.
“Checks revealed that Mashitah went to Myanmar on a real estate investment matter in Myawaddy, Myanmar.
“We were able to check and confirm it. This is after recording her statement last week,” he said when contacted yesterday.
Comm Mohd Shuhaily said the CID is continuing its investigation into allegations of human trafficking involving Malaysians in Myanmar.
“We have also recorded the statement of an individual with a Datuk Seri title in relation to the same case,” he said, adding that police have taken statements from five individuals, including Mashitah.
“We will also record the statement of an Indonesian blogger today, which will be conducted online due to his location in Jakarta,” added Comm Mohd Shuhaily.
The investigation also involves identifying other individuals connected to the case.
Comm Mohd Shuhaily advised the public to exercise caution when receiving job offers from overseas, especially from countries known for scams.
“Check and verify such offers through official channels, like the Home Ministry or the Labour Department,” he said.
It was reported on Aug 28 that the former deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department was the mastermind behind an international human trafficking syndicate in Myanmar.
Malaysian International Humanitarian Organisation secretary-general Datuk Hishamuddin Hashim reportedly said that the woman, along with her husband, held key positions as senior security officials in a company and were believed to be involved since early 2020.
Recently, a video exposing the syndicate went viral on YouTube in Indonesia, highlighting that many Indonesian citizens had fallen victim to its operations, which included forced labour, torture, organ trafficking and even murder.
Mashitah has since denied the allegations.
