KENINGAU: A human trafficking syndicate that exploited secondary school students for sex work has been dismantled following a series of special operations carried out between July 24 and 29.
Keningau district police chief Superintendent Yampil Anak Garai said investigations revealed that the syndicate had recruited teenage girls — including two Form Two students — to be prostituted to clients.
“The operation was launched after the victims’ parents lodged a report on July 24.
“Following this, a team from the Keningau district Criminal Investigation Department rescued four victims aged between 13 and 21, and arrested eight individuals to assist in the investigation,” he said when contacted today.
One of the suspects, an 18-year-old girl known as “Elly,” believed to have acted as the “madam,” has already been charged in court under Section 14 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007.
Yampil said the syndicate used social media platforms to find clients, charging around RM200 per session.
The victims were then sent to pre-arranged hotels, and the earnings were split between the suspect and the victim.
“All victims were taken to Keningau Hospital for medical checks and placed at a shelter for women and children.
“For the two underage victims, the court approved a three-month protection order, and they have been placed at the Ampang Shelter in Selangor until Nov 13,” he added.
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