Myanmar nationals beaten with iron rods rescued by police

Police detained five Myanmar nationals believed to be members of a human trafficking syndicate and rescued 55 Myanmars following a raid on a house in Sungai Ara, near here yesterday.

South-west district deputy OCPD, DSP Salawati Saad said those rescued during the raid on a double-storey terrace house at 5.30pm comprised 50 men and five women aged between 20 and 40.

"All the victims of the human trafficking syndidate were brought into the country using the land route," she said when contacted, here today.

She said preliminary investigation by the police revealed that the rented house was used as the base for the syndicate's operations and all the Myanmar nationals were kept in the house since last month before they were sold to the employers or interested parties.

During the raid, five people including a woman, aged between 25 and 40 who were suspected to be members of the human trafficking syndicate, were in the house to keep watch over the others, she said.

Salawati said the 55 people rescued appeared to be in a weak condition and they claimed to be given food once a day and were beaten with iron rods and rubber hoses by the syndicate members.

They also claimed to have been charged a certain fee for being brought into the country and offered employment, she said, adding that the house was rented for RM1,500 per month from a local resident.