KUALA LUMPUR: Police have arrested an Indian man and a Myanmar woman for allegedly exploiting children to sell flowers and begging at entertainment centres, shopping malls and restaurants in the city centre.
The suspects, aged 38 and 45 respectively, have been arrested in separate raids launched by Dang Wangi police at five premises in Ampang, Selangor on Saturday.
Dang Wangi police chief Assistant Commissioner Mohd Sukri Kaman said following the arrests, police have rescued 21 victims, comprising of eight adults, 13 children, and a two-month-old baby.
The eight adults, three men and five women, were aged between 18 and 45, while the children comprised of seven boys and six girls, aged between 16 and 2.
Sukri said the human trafficking syndicate's modus operandi included picking up the victims at their rented home and dropping them off at Jalan Changkat Bukit Bintang, Jalan Alor and Jalan Bukit Bintang at 9pm.
“These victims are forced to sell flowers, priced at RM10 each until 6am,” he said.
The Indian national has been remanded for five days while the Myanmar national has been remanded for 14 days to facilitate investigations.
The case is being investigated under Section 14 of the Anti-Trafficking in Person and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act for trafficking of children.