NGO: Child trafficking a serious threat

By ISABELLE LAI

PETALING JAYA: Child trafficking in Malaysia is a serious threat but there is no proper collaboration among government agencies to combat it, said Rumah NurSalam adviser Dr Hartini Zainuddin.

“Not one of the 15 cases against arrested child traffickers have made it to court since the Anti-Trafficking in Persons (ATIP) Act was implemented in 2007,” she added.

Dr Hartini said many officers in the immigration, marine, customs and police departments were not trained to deal with young victims.

“Some were treated as routine illegal immigrants and deported.”

Speaking at a media forum organised by The Body Shop yesterday, she said the victims should instead be placed under the Act which classifies them as those whose human rights have been violated.

Although Malaysia is a signatory to the United Nations General Assembly Convention of the Rights of the Child (CRC) since 1995, there have been many crucial gaps, she said, citing for one, the lack of proper counselling services for traumatised victims.

Dr Hartini said another major issue was the handling of child victims who don’t have identity documents or are stateless.

Tenaganita coordinator Aegile Fernandez said she had seen many trafficked Malaysian children rescued from countries like Canada, Japan, Germany and the United States.

She said Malaysia was considered a country of origin, transit and destination for child trafficking.

“Many people think that this only happens in Thailand or the Philippines. They need to realise it’s happening right at our doorstep.

“People get shocked when they read about a brutal rape. But these children get raped seven to eight times daily by their clients.”

Fernandez said that babies aged below two were especially popular because they were considered a “long-term investment”.

“They are groomed to enter the prostitution or pornography trade, and eventually become pimps,” she said, adding that children were also trafficked for child labour or illegal organ harvesting.

She said government corruption was another factor, citing restaurants, fishing vessels, golf clubs and hotels that continued to have such illegal activities.

The Body Shop managing director Datin Mina Cheah-Foong said it was raising funds and public awareness to end the exploitation of children.

It’s partners are End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes, Rumah NurSalam, Tenaganita and PS The Children.

A hand cream called “Soft Hands Kind Heart” will be sold at all outlets at RM39.90, with RM30 going to all four NGOs for every tube sold. - The Star.

Nigerian Student Charged With Possession Of Fake Currencies

SEREMBAN, Aug 21 (Bernama) -- A Nigerian student pleaded guilty in the Magistrate Court here Friday to possession of fake currencies at a hotel in Nilai, near here, last Saturday.

Anere Possible Ifeanyi, 20, is charged with possession of the fake currencies, comprising 5,370 pieces of RM50 notes, 604 pieces of RM100 notes and 38 pieces of USD100 notes, at Hotel Nilai at 2am on Aug 15.

Magistrate Nur Azlina Hashim allowed him to be released on a bail of RM6,500 in one local surety pending hearing on Sept 30.

She also ordered Ifeanyi, who is studying at a private college in Kuala Lumpur, to surrender his passport to the court.

In another case, Nur Azlina ordered Camara Mohamed Kekoura, from the Republic of Guinea, to pay fine of RM6,000, in default 10 months jail, after he pleaded guilty to using an international passport belonging to another person.

Kekoura, 26, a student of a private college in Cyberjaya, was charged with using a passport, No. K0021903 and bearing the name of Ousmane Cisse, at Hotel Nilai at 2am on Aug 15, 2009. -- BERNAMA

Two Thugs Shot Dead By Police

COPS SHOOT TWO DEAD: Selangor police today shot dead two Indonesian thugs, about two hours after they robbed a wealthy septuagenarian at his house in Kayangan Heights, and causing his death. - NST picture by Che Rani Che Di

SHAH ALAM, Aug 21 (Bernama) -- Selangor police Friday shot dead two Indonesian thugs, about two hours after they robbed a wealthy septuagenarian at his house in Kayangan Heights, resulting in the man's death due to suffocation.

It is learnt that Lim Geik Poh, 70, a heart patient, collapsed and died after he was gagged and tied up by the robbers who spent about five hours ransacking the house, beginning 10 last night.

The recycling company proprietor's house is located just 50 metres from a security guard outpost in the housing area.

Lim's 69-year-old wife who was also gagged and tied up during the robbery, managed to free herself after the robbers escaped with cash and jewellery worth about RM500,000.

The woman telephoned her children to relate the incident before contacting the outpost which in turn called the police.

Lim's body was sent to the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital for post-mortem.

Selangor police chief Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar said Lim, who was a heart patient, could have died due to suffocation.

"When the police arrived at Lim's house, he was already dead. As he was gagged by the robbers, he could have suffocated as a result," he added.

On the dead robbers, Khalid said they were part of the 'Roy Gang' which was linked to six armed robberies and house break-ins in the district.

He said the duo, in their 30s, had valid travel documents and that the police were in the midst of tracking down their accomplices.

Khalid said that upon being informed of the hold-up at Lim's house, a special police team was despatched to the scene before it cornered the two foreigners about 5am.

Despite being challenged to surrender, the police chief said the parang-weilding duo attempted to attack the police who fired four shots in self-defence, killing them on the spot.

Khalid said that initial investigations revealed that members of the 'Roy Gang' had used a hut, not far from Lim's home, to plan their strikes at the homes of potential victims.

He said the police found several house break-in tools at the hut which was believed to have been set up about a week ago. -- BERNAMA

Police Seize Explosives, Sharp Weapons Near Desa Sri Hartamas

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 21 (Bernama) -- Police Friday seized five explosives, four detonators and 38 sharp weapons, including long machetes and axes, in an illegal settlement in the Bukit Kiara View jungle near Desa Sri Hartamas here.

Brickfields OCPD ACP Wan Abdul Bari Wan Abdul Khalid said the weapons were found during a follow-up of yesterday's operation against illegal immigrants in the area.

"We had to call off the operation at 7pm yesterday due to heavy rain. Furthermore the site is located deep in the jungle. We resumed the operation at 3pm today and found the weapons," he told reporters at the Travers police station here today.

He said the case would be investigated under the Corrosive Substances, Explosives and Dangerous Weapons Act 1958.

Thirty-eight policemen and 16 Rela personnel were involved in the operation where they carried out checked on 23 Indonesians residing in the area.

Police arrested an Indonesian man and woman who had no valid documents. -- BERNAMA

Court Told Of Procedure To Recruit Bangladeshi Workers

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 21 (Bernama) -- Forms pertaining to the Foreign Workers Management System (FORMS) needed be filled up to recruit Bangladeshi workers, a corruption trial was told Friday.

Foreign Workers Management Division principal assistant secretary Ayub Abd Rahman said this was because Bangladesh was not among 14 countries from which foreign workers were allowed to be recruited by the Home Ministry.

He said the 14 countries were Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Nepal, Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Myanmar, Cambodia, the Philippines, Kazakhstan, Uzbeskistan, Turkistan and Laos.

"To recruit Bangladeshi workers, employers cannot merely apply online but must submit an application letter and get the approval of Home Minister," he told the Sessions Court.

Ayub was testifying at the trial of former Immigration director-general Datuk Wahid Md Don, 57, who is charged with agreeing to accept RM60,000 from businessman Datuk Low Chang Hian as part payment to expedite approvals for 4,337 visa applications for Bangladeshis to enter the country.

Wahid was accused of committing the offence at his house in Jalan Lembah Ledang off Jalan Duta at 10.15pm on July 10 2007.

Ayub, the prosecution's sixth witness, said applicants must complete the forms in the required sector and produce pertinent documents before filling up the FORMS.

He said applicants would be interviewed by a panel and if the requirements were met, they would have to pay a levy within 48 hours after a declaration letter was issued.

"The letter is valid for six months from the date it is issued. Applicants can then make arrangement with the Immigration Department to recruit foreign workers," he said.

To a question from Deputy Public Prosecutor Nik Azrin Zairin Nik Abdullah, Ayub said the quantum of levy were manufacturing and construction (RM1,200), plantation (RM540), agriculture (RM360) and services (RM1,800).

Ayub, who is also one of the panel members, said the services sector interview was conducted by only two panel members while that of other sectors by three or four members.

The trial before judge Rosbiahanin Arifin will be continued on Nov 15. -- BERNAMA