Two Indonesian women rescued, had been forced to work unpaid for 13 years

From second left: Tiang, Ibrahim and others at the ceremony to declare open the town hall discussion.

By William Isau

SIBU, Oct 14: Two Indonesian women who were victims of human trafficking were saved by in Kuching two days ago.

State Crime Investigation Department (CID) chief SAC Wong Ing Fung said during a Town Hall Discussion Session here today the women had been working as housemaids for a monthly salary of RM600.

However they had not been paid for 13 years and were also locked in the house by their employers.

Touching on violence in the state, Wong said between 13 to 15 per cent were rape cases and 65 per cent involve property crime.

“Sibu has the highest number of rape cases where 90 per cent of the cases were ‘suka sama suka’ (willing sex). These cases only came to light when the doctors made a police report after examining the victims,” she said.

Wong also advised the public to avoid becoming victims of mule accounts, with most notable cases involving victims who were enticed supposedly with jobs in Johor.

“Eighty per cent of the (nationwide) victims are Sarawakians, and most of the victims are from Sibu. I have interviewed three victims who were recruited by a syndicate to work in an air-conditioning servicing company in Johor with a salary of between RM2,000 to RM2,500 per month. The victims were also promised free air tickets and accommodation,” she said.

Once the victims agreed, they would be escorted by syndicate members to UTC Sibu to apply for passports, with the passport fees covered by the syndicate.

Upon arrival in Johor, the victims received employment letters from a fictitious company to open bank accounts with banks in Johor and Singapore.

Once the bank account had been opened, the syndicate would take control of it as well as the victims’ phones for illegal activities.

Wong added that the victims were paid RM500 for acting as mule account holders.

“If the victims refused to cooperate, the syndicate would threaten not to send them back,” Wong said.

On overseas job scams, Wong revealed that the number of Sarawakians who had fallen victim was quite high.

Last year, Sarawak police received 18 reports from parents involving 52 victims. In the first 10 months of this year, 26 reports were filed, involving 45 victims.

Wong revealed that victims were lured by promises of free accommodation and meals, with their passport fees also covered by the suspects.

“The recruiters were individuals familiar to the victims. Some were taken as far as Latin America, though 90 per cent of the reports we received involved people stranded in Bangkok,” she added.

Also speaking at the event were Sarawak Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP Datuk Ibrahim Darus, and Deputy Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government, Datuk Michael Tiang. — DayakDaily