JOHOR BARU: A human trafficking syndicate has been exploiting the generous nature of Malaysians by recruiting disabled foreigners to beg in the streets.
Their operations reportedly came to light in April this year, and arrests were made in a series of raids on June 13 and 19. Three Malaysians including a woman were arrested, and two disabled foreign men were rescued.
Johor police chief Commissioner M. Kumar said the syndicate members would travel overseas to identify disabled individuals and recruit them as beggars.
The victims were trafficked into the country on tourist visas before being assigned to a transporter-cum-caretaker in various states.
Upon arrival in the country, the disabled foreigners were provided with food and accommodation. However, they would soon be required to scrounge between RM250 and RM300 a day -- rain or shine.
They had to pay RM800 a week to their caretaker as a "passport arrangement" fee and also RM10 daily to transport them between their accommodation and "workplace".
Their daily collections would be collected by their caretaker, and they were paid RM300 a month as salary.
The foreigners were equipped with Wi-Fi speakers, microphones and a donation box. They would sing sad songs to tug the heartstrings of passersby at night markets, food courts and event places.
Kumar said the caretakers would wait in a parked vehicle, where they could keep an eye on the beggars.
One of the two rescued beggars was a wheelchair user while the other had deformed legs that needed clutches to move around.
"Police investigations revealed that the beggars could earn between RM2,000 and RM3,000 weekly, and raked in up to RM8,000 a month.
"The syndicate made Malaysia a prime target for their operations due to the lucrative earnings in exploiting the people's compassionate nature, who have no qualms helping those in need," he said at the state police contingent headquarters here today.
He added that a man and woman aged 42 and 52 were arrested in a series of raids between 8.30pm and 10.30pm in the state capital on June 13.
They were believed to be caretakers who were responsible for transporting the foreign beggars to several locations.
In a follow-up investigation on 19 June, police raided an apartment in the city centre at 11.45pm and arrested a 42-year-old man.
He too allegedly played the role of a caretaker to one of the two rescued foreigners.
Police seized three mobile phones, cars, keys, a speaker, microphones and RM1,859 during the raids.
The suspects are investigated for trafficking disabled persons who were unable to care for themselves.
The offence is punishable with a five-year jail term or rotan, or both upon conviction. Kumar said the foreigners are currently placed under a 21-day protection order and the embassy of their home countries had been notified.