9 human trafficking victims rescued
KOTA KINABALU: The State Immigration Department rescued nine Filipino women who were victims of a human trafficking syndicate in Semporna last week.
Sabah Immigration director Datuk Dr Muhamad Sade Mohamad Amin said the rescue operation was conducted by teams from the Semporna Immigration Enforcement Unit at an unnumbered house at SK Pekan Semporna and a water village at Kampung Terusan Hujung Batu, Pulau Bum-Bum just before midnight on July 8.
“Two men and a Filipino woman, aged 28 to 40, who were believed to be the syndicate mastermind, were also detained in the 11pm operation,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Muhamad Sade said investigation revealed that the victims, in their 20s and 40s, were deceived by the syndicate by promising lucrative job opportunities in the Middle East, especially in Jordan and Dubai.
“Each victim was charged thousands of ringgit, reaching up to RM13,000, for the syndicate’s service,” said Muhamad Sade.
The victims have been placed at the Rumah Perlindungan Wanita (Women Protection Home) in Kota Kinabalu, while the suspects have been held at the Papar Immigration Detention Centre to be investigated under Section 26A of the Anti-Trafficking In Person And Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007.
Muhamad Sade added that the department had also conducted Covid-19 screening tests on all the victims and suspects to ensure no transmission of the virus in accordance with the standard operating procedure set by the Health Ministry.
He urged the public to continue to provide valuable information of any human trafficking or smuggling activity near their areas so appropriate action can be taken by the Immigration Department.
He also thanked the public for their continuous cooperation with the department.