IPOH: Police have obtained remand orders against a married couple believed to be the masterminds behind a human trafficking syndicate in Pengkalan Hulu, Gerik here.
State Criminal Investigation Department Datuk Gan Tian Kee said the couple, aged 24 and 43, was remanded for six days until March 3 in order to facilitate an investigation.
On Sunday, a team of policemen from the state contingent's Anti-Vice, Gambling and Secret Societies Division (D7) had conducted a raid at an oil palm plantation in Belukar Semang, Kampung Tasek, at 12.10am.
Police discovered and rescued 18 locals, including five children aged between two and seven, believed to be victims of a human trafficking syndicate.
The victims comprise five men and six women aged between 27 and 62, two male teens aged 13 and 17, and five children.
Gan said all the victims have been placed in shelter homes in Rembau (Negri Sembilan), Subang Jaya (Selangor), Johor Baru (Johor) and Tanjung Keling (Malacca).
It was learnt that the couple had offered a salary of RM900 to each of the adult victims to work on the plantation, but paid only RM100. The children were forced to work in the plantation without wages.
One of the victims claimed that the female suspect had threatened to have him beaten up if he did not work on the plantation, or if he dared to ask about his salary.
During the raid, police also seized a Mitsubishi Fuso lorry, a Nissan Navara, several identity cards, birth certificates and 11 envelopes containing copies of Etiqa Insurance policies.
The case is being investigated under Section 13 and 14 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007, which carries a maximum of 20 years' jail, a fine, or both, if found guilty.