Kumpulan bawa kanak-kanak mengemis tumpas, 17 mangsa selamat

The Malaysian police rescued 17 foreign children who were allegedly victims of human trafficking in an operation called "Fast Helping Hands" (Picture Bernama) in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. Seven male and nine female children, aged from three months to 14 years, were saved from seven locations in Bukit Bintang and Chow Kit. The rescue was part of "Fast Helping Hands" operation aimed at combating human trafficking and child exploitation for commercial sex purposes.

The focus was on activities involving people from the Asia region around Kuala Lumpur. The children belong to Jordanian nationality. In the coordinated operation, a total of 15 individuals, including seven men and eight women aged between 21 and 49 years, suspected of being Jordanian based on stolen travel documents, were arrested for investigation of trafficking a child for exploitation.

Of the total arrested, five failed to present a valid travel document, according to the Director of Criminal Investigations, M Kumar. According to the police, the group is believed to be a syndicate involving Jordanian nationals. Preliminary investigations found the group entered Malaysia legally with a social visit pass, allowing them to stay for 90 days.

The group brought children for exploitation in areas around Kuala Lumpur, with daily earnings estimated at RM500 to RM1,000, she said. Further investigation was conducted under Section 14 of the Anti-Human Trafficking Act and Section 32(A) of the Child Protection Act, Section 6(1)(C) of the Immigration Act, and Section 39(B) of the Immigration (Amendment) Rules.

The police carried out "Fast Helping Hands" operation in collaboration with the Anti-Human Trafficking and Anti-Migration Commission, the Home Ministry, and the Welfare Department.