KUALA LUMPUR: The police are conducting an analysis and monitoring of the financial positions of several companies to aid in the investigation into human trafficking cases in Myanmar, allegedly linked to a former deputy minister.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said reports obtained from Bank Negara Malaysia and the Registrar of Societies also involved information on several individuals, including former deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Dr Mashitah Ibrahim, and a local businessman with the title 'Datuk Seri'.
"We are also looking into the travel history of the individuals involved, especially to Myanmar, since 2019.
"The police are also recording the statements of several individuals, especially those who were victims of human trafficking and were successfully brought from Myanmar back home," he told Berita Harian when contacted today.
Razarudin said these measures were taken to identify any new information that could assist in the investigation.
"So far, nine individuals have recorded their statements since Tuesday until yesterday (Wednesday)," he said.
However, based on the statements, he said there was no strong evidence pointing to human trafficking activities.
"Statements were also recorded from a politician and her wife, apart from businessmen, several individuals from non-governmental organisations, and a reporter from a local online portal.
"We are also getting feedback from an editor who published the report 'Justice For Myanmar' to record their statements online over the content of the article," he said.
Razarudin added that the statement recorded by a YouTube vlogger from Indonesia revealed that the information they disclosed was based on their own investigation, while some of it was based on the 'Justice For Myanmar' report.
"The team is currently tracking down two businessmen from China to help with further investigation."
On Tuesday, the Malaysian International Humanitarian Organisation (MHO) handed over several documents to the police to assist in the investigation of human trafficking cases in Myanmar.
MHO secretary-general Datuk Hishamuddin Hashim had said the documents were submitted to the investigating officer of the Anti-Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling (Atipsom) Division of the Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) while providing a statement at 9.30am.
He said that he, along with MHO committee member Azirul Shafiq, was called to provide their statements to assist with the investigation.
Hishamuddin had also claimed that the modus operandi of the syndicate involved deceiving victims online by offering attractive jobs before forcing them to work as online gambling scammers.
He was quoted as saying that a video, titled 'Neraka Perbatasan: Jejak Mafia Judi Online dan Perbudakan Digital di Asia' which recently went viral on social media, purportedly exposed the human trafficking syndicate in Myanmar. The video was produced in Indonesia.
On Aug 29, Mashitah denied any involvement and lodged a police report over the accusations linking her to the human trafficking syndicate.