JOHOR BARU: A police raid on an old folks home and another location here on Sunday led to the rescue of five suspected victims of a human trafficking syndicate.
State Criminal Investigation Department chief Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat said the five victims, all Indonesian women aged between 28 and 60, have been working at the old folks home for between two and 10 years and are believed to have never been paid salaries.
"The operation involved raids at an old folks home and the house of a suspected agent who supplies foreign workers in Johor Baru.
"The 6.30pm raid led to the rescue of five women suspected of being exploited for work by their employer,” Kamarul Zaman said in a statement today.
He said two men in their 60s – the manager of the old folks home and another caretaker – were also arrested.
Another Indonesian woman believed to be working as their maid was also arrested during the raids.
The rescued women’s case is being investigated under Section 44 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants (ATIPSOM) Act 2007 44 for taking a person into temporary custody.
Those arrested are being investigated under Sections 12 and 13 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants (ATIPSOM) Act 2007, and Sections 55b and 6 (1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.