'Datuk', wife detained for allegedly being agents of illegal migrant workers
MUHAMMAD AMINNURALIFF
SHAH ALAM - The immigration department raided a house of an individual with the title of Datuk and found 13 undocumented Indonesian women at the premise.
Department director-general Datuk Seri Khairul Dzaimee Daud said the home owner and his wife were arrested during the raid on Feb 16.
"The two suspects, 66 and 56, were arrested under Section 55E of the Immigration Act.
"In addition, all 13 Indonesian women who were arrested were also found to be posing as tourists using Social Visit Passes (PLS)," he said today.
Khairul added the investigation found that all the Indonesian women who were detained would be supplied as maids and cleaners," he said.
Each of the Indonesian women were charged a fee of between RM3,500 to RM4,500 per person as a service fee fto bring them into the country, the fee to be deducted from their monthly salary, he further said.
"The investigation also found that the couple were carrying out the illegal activity of managing the entry and supply of maids together with a known agent from Indonesia," he said.
He further said all those arrested were suspected of having committed offences under the Immigration Act 1959/1963 (Act 155) and also offences under the Immigration Regulations 1963.
The case will also be referred to the Labour Department under the Human Resources Ministry on recruitment and supply of workers carried out without a valid licence.
"People are advised to be careful with this activity and always refer to the latest information from Immigration and Labour Department," he said.
