KUALA LUMPUR: Three Bangladeshi men were rescued from forced labour while 29 others were detained following a raid on a furniture and recycling factory in Petaling Jaya.
The victims were believed to have been beaten and threatened as well.
The raid was conducted by Bukit Aman CID's Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (Atipsom) division (D3) at about 2.30pm on Thursday (Jan 23).
The operation was conducted with the cooperation of Petaling Jaya police, Selangor Immigration Department and Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ).
Bukit Aman CID D3 principal assistant director Senior Asst Comm Soffian Santong said the victims, aged between 28 and 35 years old, were rescued in accordance with Section 44(1) of the Atipsom Act 2007.
"The victims have worked at the factory for one to five years.
"They claimed they were beaten, threatened and not paid salaries and placed in incondusive accomodation," he said when contacted on Friday (Jan 24).
A total of 29 individuals aged between 26 and 48 years old were also detained for various offences, he said.
"Two men from Bangladesh and India were identified as the managers for the premises.
"We also detained other foreign men from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Myanmar," he said.
SAC Soffian said the investigation is being conducted under Section 12 of the Atipsom Act 2007, the Immigration Act and Immigration regulations.
"The MBPJ also took action against the factory under Section 101(1)(v), of the Local Government Act 1976 for operating without a licence," he said.