BUKIT MERTAJAM: Police rescued a woman who was locked up in a house at Taman Sanctuary in Machang Bubok here on Thursday destined for a country in Southeast Asia to work with a syndicate.
Seberang Prai Tengah district police chief Assistant Commissioner Tan Cheng San said police received information about a 22-year-old woman being locked up in the house for the past few days by a human trafficking syndicate.
He said based on information and intelligence, police raided the house about 5.45pm and arrested a 34-year-old man before rescuing the woman.
"Initial investigation revealed the self-employed man managed the woman before being sent to a neighbouring country to work as an operator with an online cheating syndicate," he said today.
Tan said, in the raid, police seized two cars and a laptop as well as items used in prostitution activities such as condoms and tissues.
Tan said further investigation into the case is ongoing, including tracking down several more individuals believed to be involved in the syndicate network.
The man has been remanded under Section 12 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act (Atipsom) 2007.
"We advise the people, especially those being offered work abroad with promises of high pay, to check first for fear that they may fall victim to cheating syndicate or human trafficking syndicate," he added.