Woman held over baby-for-sale ring probe

KUALA LUMPUR: The police have detained a woman, believed to be the operator of a centre for wayward girls in Rawang, to help in investigations into a baby-for-sale syndicate.

Bukit Aman CID Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants Division principal assistant director Senior Asst Comm Maszely Minhad said the 58-yearold suspect was detained at the Hulu Selangor District Social Welfare Department (SWD) office at 4pm on Wednesday.

‘“Police also rescued two women, aged 22 and 18, who were victims of the syndicate.

“Applications of Interim Protection Order (IPO) for the victims have also been allowed for 21 days by the Selayang magistrate’s court. They will be housed at a shelter,’’ he said in a statement here yesterday.

SWD’s Legal and Enforcement Division director Ahmad Rashid said the suspect surrendered the certificate of registration for the centre.

“When the certificate is surrendered, it means the operator aspires to shut down the centre.

“We will submit a report to our headquarters for further action,’’ he told Bernama yesterday.

In the meantime, Chow Kit Foundation chief operations officer Ananti Raj urged the ministry concerned to include the views of non-governmental organisations to seek the best solution to the problem.