KUCHING: Sarawak police rescued five foreign women who were victims of exploitation to provide sexual services, during a raid on a shophouse at Jalan Setia Raja last Friday (Oct 21).
Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Mohd Azman Ahmad Sapri confirmed that the women aged between 24 and 29, were rescued by a team from the Anti-Vice, Gambling and Secret Societies Division (D7) around 3.30pm.
“Investigation found that all of them, believed to be victims of human trafficking for sexual exploitation, were forced to entertain customers at entertainment premises and hotels, including providing sexual service for a certain fee.
“The victims admitted to entering Sarawak and have been in the state in a period between three weeks and five months.
“All of them will be sent to the Women’s Protection Home in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah for further investigation procedures,” he said.
Prior to the raid, they found that the premises where the victims lived, was locked from outside and their movements (victims) were monitored by video surveillance installed around the premises.
Azman added that the police also managed to arrest two local men aged 23 and 25 at separate places, and seized two foreign passports with the identity of the rescued victims.
“The arrests and seizure are made under Section 12 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Migrant Smuggling Act 2007 which carries a jail term of up to 15 years and a fine, if convicted.
“The case is also being investigated under Section 12(1)(f) of the Passport Act 1966 where if convicted, a fine of RM10,000 and a jail sentence for a term up to five years, can be imposed,” he said.
In this regard, Azman called on the community to work hand in hand with the authorities to report anything suspicious related to such activities.
