The Star online. News. Nation. Thursday June 21, 2007
KUALA LUMPUR: He sold underage girls for the purpose of prostitution four years ago.
At the age of 53 yesterday, parking attendant Lee Choo Chye, admitted to offering a sex service to a policeman in April this year.
For this, Lee, who has 11 previous convictions, was sentenced to 12 months’ jail and fined RM4,000.
Lee, from Sungai Petani in Kedah, was said to be looking for clients by offering the sex service at the rate of RM120 for one time service for the purpose of prostitution to L/Kpl Nazri Nayan.
L/Kpl Nazri is from the anti-vice division of the Dang Wangi district police station.
He was said to have committed the offence at Jalan Bukit Bintang at 11.45pm on April 15.
He was also sentenced to a month’ jail for failing to show his identity card to the police that day.
The jail terms are to run concurrently from the date of arrest on April 15.
In asking for a lenient sentence before magistrate Aizatul Akmal Maharani on Thursday, Lee said he is a HIV patient.
Prosecuting officer Chief Insp Tan Boon Sing asked the court to impose an appropriate sentence on Lee saying that the accused has previous convictions for robbery (four times), drug possession (four), running away from drug rehabilitation centre (oncee), selling underage girl (one) and violating a collateral bond condition.
Lee had been sentenced to 10 months’ jail for selling underage girls in 2003.
Showing posts with label child trafficking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label child trafficking. Show all posts
Thursday, 28 June 2007
Thursday, 31 May 2007
2007 05: Mum and son missing after dad’s threat
The Star online. News. Nation. Thursday May 31, 2007
A 19-YEAR-OLD mother and her 10-month-old baby are believed to be missing after the woman’s husband threatened that he was going to sell their son, Harian Metro reported.
Siti Umairah Kamisan and Mohd Airel Aiman Mohd Azmil have been missing for a week from her mother’s house in Taman Pulai Jaya in Johor Baru.
Siti Umairah’s mother, Latifah Abdul Rahman, 42, said that her daughter’s marriage was not a happy one.
“When Siti Umairah was pregnant with Mohd Airel, her husband had told her that once she gave birth, he will sell the baby,” she said.
Latifah said that on May 21, after returning from the pasar malam with her elder daughter, she found both Siti Umairah and her grandson missing.
She lodged a police report at the Kangkar Pulai police station on May 23, but to date, there has been no news about them.
Those with information can contact the police station at 07-5271255.
A 19-YEAR-OLD mother and her 10-month-old baby are believed to be missing after the woman’s husband threatened that he was going to sell their son, Harian Metro reported.
Siti Umairah Kamisan and Mohd Airel Aiman Mohd Azmil have been missing for a week from her mother’s house in Taman Pulai Jaya in Johor Baru.
Siti Umairah’s mother, Latifah Abdul Rahman, 42, said that her daughter’s marriage was not a happy one.
“When Siti Umairah was pregnant with Mohd Airel, her husband had told her that once she gave birth, he will sell the baby,” she said.
Latifah said that on May 21, after returning from the pasar malam with her elder daughter, she found both Siti Umairah and her grandson missing.
She lodged a police report at the Kangkar Pulai police station on May 23, but to date, there has been no news about them.
Those with information can contact the police station at 07-5271255.
Monday, 14 May 2007
2007 04: Clout to Act Against Human Traffickers: What the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Bill provides...
NST online. Frontpage. 25/04/07
By : V. Vasudevan
THE Government yesterday tabled the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Bill to provide the means to fight the traffic in human beings — particularly women and children. The bill will provide protection for women and children and make it easier for the police, immigration and other authorities to pursue, prosecute and convict human traffickers.
KUALA LUMPUR: Signalling its seriousness in tackling human trafficking, the government yesterday tabled a bill that not only gives clout to law enforcers but protects victims and informants.
It will arm the government with power to clamp down on anyone involved in the trading of humans.
Anyone found guilty of trafficking in humans will face a maximum jail term of 15 years while those caught using threats or deception to traffic in humans will face a jail term of between three and 20 years.
Victims will not be prosecuted for illegal entry but will be placed in half-way houses. Currently, they are sent to Immigration detention centres and not treated as victims of trafficking.
The move comes in the wake of allegations that Malaysia is becoming a transit point for human trafficking. Police statistics show that 371 foreign women were rescued between 2004 and last year in the country.
The Anti-Trafficking in Persons Bill 2007 was tabled in parliament for first reading yesterday.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said: "Currently, there is no legislation which tackles human trafficking. This law will address the concerns raised about human trafficking and arm enforcement agencies with the tools to fight it.
"The bill would be passed in the current sitting, Nazri said at the parliament lobby. He said once the bill was passed, the government could ratify the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, which supplements the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime (Untoc).Nazri said the government had ratified Untoc but was unable to implement the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons as there was no legislation to cater to this.
He said the bill would provide protection to women and children and make sure the authorities had laws to charge those involved in trafficking.
Under the bill, any person who trafficks for the purpose of exploitation, shall on conviction be punished with imprisonment not exceeding 15 years, and be liable to a fine upon conviction.
The bill also provides for those who use threats, force, coercion, fraud or deception to be punished by a jail term of not less than three years but not more than 20 years and a fine.
Those caught trafficking in children can be jailed for between three and 20 years. Those who profit from the exploitation of a trafficked person face a sentence of 15 years, and a fine of between RM50,000 and RM500,000.
Anyone found guilty of recruiting people will face a jail term not exceeding 10 years plus a fine. Those who provide financial services or facilities to traffickers also face punishment, including imprisonment of up to 10 years.
The victim or trafficked person will not be prosecuted for illegal entry, or charged for entering the country with fraudulent documents provided by the trafficker. Medical care will be extended to victims and they can be moved from one safe house to another for additional protection.
The bill addresses the perennial concern of those who become informants: They will be protected and they will remain anonymous.
When the trafficked person is a Malaysian or permanent resident, the parent or guardian can apply to have the person removed from a half-way house and put under his custody.
By : V. Vasudevan
THE Government yesterday tabled the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Bill to provide the means to fight the traffic in human beings — particularly women and children. The bill will provide protection for women and children and make it easier for the police, immigration and other authorities to pursue, prosecute and convict human traffickers.
KUALA LUMPUR: Signalling its seriousness in tackling human trafficking, the government yesterday tabled a bill that not only gives clout to law enforcers but protects victims and informants.
It will arm the government with power to clamp down on anyone involved in the trading of humans.
Anyone found guilty of trafficking in humans will face a maximum jail term of 15 years while those caught using threats or deception to traffic in humans will face a jail term of between three and 20 years.
Victims will not be prosecuted for illegal entry but will be placed in half-way houses. Currently, they are sent to Immigration detention centres and not treated as victims of trafficking.
The move comes in the wake of allegations that Malaysia is becoming a transit point for human trafficking. Police statistics show that 371 foreign women were rescued between 2004 and last year in the country.
The Anti-Trafficking in Persons Bill 2007 was tabled in parliament for first reading yesterday.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said: "Currently, there is no legislation which tackles human trafficking. This law will address the concerns raised about human trafficking and arm enforcement agencies with the tools to fight it.
"The bill would be passed in the current sitting, Nazri said at the parliament lobby. He said once the bill was passed, the government could ratify the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, which supplements the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime (Untoc).Nazri said the government had ratified Untoc but was unable to implement the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons as there was no legislation to cater to this.
He said the bill would provide protection to women and children and make sure the authorities had laws to charge those involved in trafficking.
Under the bill, any person who trafficks for the purpose of exploitation, shall on conviction be punished with imprisonment not exceeding 15 years, and be liable to a fine upon conviction.
The bill also provides for those who use threats, force, coercion, fraud or deception to be punished by a jail term of not less than three years but not more than 20 years and a fine.
Those caught trafficking in children can be jailed for between three and 20 years. Those who profit from the exploitation of a trafficked person face a sentence of 15 years, and a fine of between RM50,000 and RM500,000.
Anyone found guilty of recruiting people will face a jail term not exceeding 10 years plus a fine. Those who provide financial services or facilities to traffickers also face punishment, including imprisonment of up to 10 years.
The victim or trafficked person will not be prosecuted for illegal entry, or charged for entering the country with fraudulent documents provided by the trafficker. Medical care will be extended to victims and they can be moved from one safe house to another for additional protection.
The bill addresses the perennial concern of those who become informants: They will be protected and they will remain anonymous.
When the trafficked person is a Malaysian or permanent resident, the parent or guardian can apply to have the person removed from a half-way house and put under his custody.
Thursday, 10 May 2007
2007 04: Suppressing human trafficking
NST online. Sunday interview. 29/04/07
THE trafficking of women and children, the role of the Welfare Department, child beggars, and an increasingly aging Malaysian society have been making the headlines recently.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil talks to TAN CHOE CHOE about the challenges before her.
Q: How serious is human trafficking in Malaysia today?
A: There are more than 800,000 people being trafficked — for sexual exploitation, forced labour, begging — across international borders each year. In June 2006, 19 Malaysian women were rescued from brothels in Britain which involved a multi-million ringgit human trafficking syndicate. The number of trafficked women rescued in Malaysia stood at 371 between 2004 and last year, but this could be the tip of the iceberg. The situation is not alarming. The proposed Anti-Trafficking in Persons Bill is our preventive measure. But we recognise that if we don’t control the situation now, Malaysia may become a trafficking hotspot. This is because of it being one of the most economically dynamic countries in the region.
Q: Why is the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Bill important?
A: My ministry brought to the attention of the Cabinet Committee on Gender Equality in July last year the need to have a specific law to address the problem of trafficking in persons. This bill was then drafted and passed by the cabinet on April 11. The Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially women and children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime (Untoc), forms the basis of this bill. This law will strengthen the ability and capacity of the authorities, such as the police and the immigration, to pursue, prosecute and convict traffickers.
Q: The issue seems to involve many stakeholders. Which other ministries or agencies will be involved in tackling this menace?
A: One of the provisions of the bill is to establish a Council for Anti-Trafficking in Persons chaired by the secretary-general of the Home Affairs Ministry. The proposed member-ministries include Foreign Affairs, Internal Security, Human Resources, Transport, Information, and us. Other members will include the Attorney-General, the Inspector-General of Police, and the directors-general of Immigration, Customs, Maritime Enforcement Agency as well as several non-governmental organisations. The council will co-ordinate the implementation of the Act, and formulate policies and programmes to prevent and suppress human trafficking. It will also render assistance to victims, and increase public awareness on the causes and consequences of trafficking.One of the provisions of the bill is to set up halfway houses for victims of trafficking. These homes will be under the Welfare Department. Welfare officers will provide counselling and rehabilitation for victims while they wait for their cases to be disposed. For a start, two halfway houses in Kuala Lumpur should be ready in two months’ time.
Q: There seems to be an influx of foreign child beggars in Malaysia today. Are they victims of child trafficking too?
A: It is possible. There should not be a single beggar on our streets because we are not a poor country. There are opportunities for everyone and there are various welfare institutions for the disabled or disadvantaged. Help can come from the government and NGOs. Most of the beggars are not hardcore poor but just taking advantage of Malaysians’ generosity and kindness.The case of Yin (Muhammad Nazrin) highlighted the issue of foreign beggars. The cabinet is not happy with the situation. A task force has been formed to monitor and rid major towns of beggars. It would be led by the police and assisted by the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, local authorities, Immigration Department, Tourism Malaysia and Customs Department and the Islamic Development Department.I am also not happy with some institutions which are sending children out to eating places, mosques and rest and recreation centres to sell things to raise funds for charity. We will take the operators to task.
Q: You have a large ministry and the Welfare Department alone accounts for 4,500 staff.
A: When we were just Women and Family (Development), things were much easier. The Welfare Department is a powerful agency and it has done so much over the last 60 over years, but much more still needs to be done. When we first took over, we looked at the morale of staff, which was low. They were working long hours and expected to know everything about welfare — from caring for abandoned senior citizens and disaster victims to helping pregnant girls. They also have to prepare reports and attend to cases in court. Yet they were not given the respect they deserved. We were also under-staffed and staff training was a concern. We reorganised the department into special divisions like children, handicapped and senior citizens so that officers could specialise in one area at a time.Then we intensified staff training at the ISM (Social Institute of Malaysia).
Q: What about claims on the lack of professionalism among social workers in the Welfare Department. A survey pointed out that only one out of 10 workers were properly trained.
A: Welfare officers are very good and dedicated but we do recognise that we need to improve their training. ISM has tied up with several universities like the University of Berkeley — which is supposed to be one of the better schools for welfare — and UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles). Their lecturers are coming here and we are also sending our officers there for training. We’re also looking at tie-ups with local universities like Universiti Sains Malaysia.
Q: In the meantime, those not properly trained are still taking on cases by themselves?
A: If I insist on sending all officers for a two-month training stint, we would have to close down the department. However, we have in situ training and we are also reinstating the mentor system to guide them. We work closely with NGOs and they’ve been really helpful and many of them are expert groups with special expertise.
Q: What other changes are in the pipeline?
A: We are looking at total welfare reform, at rolling out a comprehensive welfare scheme for the country. We do not want to do bits of changes here and there any more. We are looking at revamping the welfare system — administrative changes, financial changes and forward planning for the next five years or so. We are also looking at empowering the whole nation to be welfare-savvy, to make welfare a responsibility for all. It’s not tenable any more for it to be on the shoulders of welfare officers alone.It’s one big package and we’re finalising the details before presenting it to the cabinet.
Q: What do you think about calls to introduce a law to force children to look after their parents like in Singapore?
A: We feel that it’s not necessary now. I firmly believe that Malaysian children still love and respect their elders.Sending their elderly parents to old folk homes is the last thing they want to do. It is only when the parents are infirm and need 24-hour medical supervision that the children have no choice in the matter.I’m not saying no to it forever, just not now. I would rather have the private sector coming in to establish more day care centres because what we really need is better infrastructure.We are also preparing a memorandum to push for local governments to make it a must for each new development project to have provision for a child-care centre, a day-care centre for the elderly, and a community hall.
Q: But there seems to be increasing reports of children abandoning their old parents.
A: Those are isolated cases and not representative of the whole nation. Look around you — the nation still has a heart.But we have to plan for an increasingly aging society.
Q: Since independence, we’ve built only two more old folk homes, bringing to 32 the number of state-run homes.
A: For too long, the focus has been on economic development and welfare has been regarded as an afterthought. While we needed the economic development, it is now time to look at social development as well.
THE trafficking of women and children, the role of the Welfare Department, child beggars, and an increasingly aging Malaysian society have been making the headlines recently.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil talks to TAN CHOE CHOE about the challenges before her.
Q: How serious is human trafficking in Malaysia today?
A: There are more than 800,000 people being trafficked — for sexual exploitation, forced labour, begging — across international borders each year. In June 2006, 19 Malaysian women were rescued from brothels in Britain which involved a multi-million ringgit human trafficking syndicate. The number of trafficked women rescued in Malaysia stood at 371 between 2004 and last year, but this could be the tip of the iceberg. The situation is not alarming. The proposed Anti-Trafficking in Persons Bill is our preventive measure. But we recognise that if we don’t control the situation now, Malaysia may become a trafficking hotspot. This is because of it being one of the most economically dynamic countries in the region.
Q: Why is the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Bill important?
A: My ministry brought to the attention of the Cabinet Committee on Gender Equality in July last year the need to have a specific law to address the problem of trafficking in persons. This bill was then drafted and passed by the cabinet on April 11. The Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially women and children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime (Untoc), forms the basis of this bill. This law will strengthen the ability and capacity of the authorities, such as the police and the immigration, to pursue, prosecute and convict traffickers.
Q: The issue seems to involve many stakeholders. Which other ministries or agencies will be involved in tackling this menace?
A: One of the provisions of the bill is to establish a Council for Anti-Trafficking in Persons chaired by the secretary-general of the Home Affairs Ministry. The proposed member-ministries include Foreign Affairs, Internal Security, Human Resources, Transport, Information, and us. Other members will include the Attorney-General, the Inspector-General of Police, and the directors-general of Immigration, Customs, Maritime Enforcement Agency as well as several non-governmental organisations. The council will co-ordinate the implementation of the Act, and formulate policies and programmes to prevent and suppress human trafficking. It will also render assistance to victims, and increase public awareness on the causes and consequences of trafficking.One of the provisions of the bill is to set up halfway houses for victims of trafficking. These homes will be under the Welfare Department. Welfare officers will provide counselling and rehabilitation for victims while they wait for their cases to be disposed. For a start, two halfway houses in Kuala Lumpur should be ready in two months’ time.
Q: There seems to be an influx of foreign child beggars in Malaysia today. Are they victims of child trafficking too?
A: It is possible. There should not be a single beggar on our streets because we are not a poor country. There are opportunities for everyone and there are various welfare institutions for the disabled or disadvantaged. Help can come from the government and NGOs. Most of the beggars are not hardcore poor but just taking advantage of Malaysians’ generosity and kindness.The case of Yin (Muhammad Nazrin) highlighted the issue of foreign beggars. The cabinet is not happy with the situation. A task force has been formed to monitor and rid major towns of beggars. It would be led by the police and assisted by the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, local authorities, Immigration Department, Tourism Malaysia and Customs Department and the Islamic Development Department.I am also not happy with some institutions which are sending children out to eating places, mosques and rest and recreation centres to sell things to raise funds for charity. We will take the operators to task.
Q: You have a large ministry and the Welfare Department alone accounts for 4,500 staff.
A: When we were just Women and Family (Development), things were much easier. The Welfare Department is a powerful agency and it has done so much over the last 60 over years, but much more still needs to be done. When we first took over, we looked at the morale of staff, which was low. They were working long hours and expected to know everything about welfare — from caring for abandoned senior citizens and disaster victims to helping pregnant girls. They also have to prepare reports and attend to cases in court. Yet they were not given the respect they deserved. We were also under-staffed and staff training was a concern. We reorganised the department into special divisions like children, handicapped and senior citizens so that officers could specialise in one area at a time.Then we intensified staff training at the ISM (Social Institute of Malaysia).
Q: What about claims on the lack of professionalism among social workers in the Welfare Department. A survey pointed out that only one out of 10 workers were properly trained.
A: Welfare officers are very good and dedicated but we do recognise that we need to improve their training. ISM has tied up with several universities like the University of Berkeley — which is supposed to be one of the better schools for welfare — and UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles). Their lecturers are coming here and we are also sending our officers there for training. We’re also looking at tie-ups with local universities like Universiti Sains Malaysia.
Q: In the meantime, those not properly trained are still taking on cases by themselves?
A: If I insist on sending all officers for a two-month training stint, we would have to close down the department. However, we have in situ training and we are also reinstating the mentor system to guide them. We work closely with NGOs and they’ve been really helpful and many of them are expert groups with special expertise.
Q: What other changes are in the pipeline?
A: We are looking at total welfare reform, at rolling out a comprehensive welfare scheme for the country. We do not want to do bits of changes here and there any more. We are looking at revamping the welfare system — administrative changes, financial changes and forward planning for the next five years or so. We are also looking at empowering the whole nation to be welfare-savvy, to make welfare a responsibility for all. It’s not tenable any more for it to be on the shoulders of welfare officers alone.It’s one big package and we’re finalising the details before presenting it to the cabinet.
Q: What do you think about calls to introduce a law to force children to look after their parents like in Singapore?
A: We feel that it’s not necessary now. I firmly believe that Malaysian children still love and respect their elders.Sending their elderly parents to old folk homes is the last thing they want to do. It is only when the parents are infirm and need 24-hour medical supervision that the children have no choice in the matter.I’m not saying no to it forever, just not now. I would rather have the private sector coming in to establish more day care centres because what we really need is better infrastructure.We are also preparing a memorandum to push for local governments to make it a must for each new development project to have provision for a child-care centre, a day-care centre for the elderly, and a community hall.
Q: But there seems to be increasing reports of children abandoning their old parents.
A: Those are isolated cases and not representative of the whole nation. Look around you — the nation still has a heart.But we have to plan for an increasingly aging society.
Q: Since independence, we’ve built only two more old folk homes, bringing to 32 the number of state-run homes.
A: For too long, the focus has been on economic development and welfare has been regarded as an afterthought. While we needed the economic development, it is now time to look at social development as well.
2007 05: Nazri: Whipping not included as punishment
The Star online. News. Parliament. Thursday May 10, 2007
At The Dewan RakyatReports by ZULKIFLI A. RAHMAN, ELIZABETH LOOI AND FLORENCE A. SAMY
THERE is no punishment of whipping in the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Bill 2007 because this is frowned upon by the UN convention against such crimes.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz said whipping was also against the government’s intention to comply with the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children (TIP Protocol).
The protocol is under the UN Convention Against Transnational Organised Crime, which Malaysia had already ratified in September 2004, he added.
Nazri said that although whipping was not included in the Bill, the Government had proposed heavy prison sentences of up to 20 years for offenders involved in human trafficking.
“This punishment is harsh compared with other countries because in Europe, the jail term for human trafficking offenders is only from two to 10 years. The prison terms act as a strong deterrent,” he said when winding up the debate on the Bill.
Earlier while debating the Bill, several MPs had called on the Government to include whipping as a form of punishment in human trafficking.
Datuk Badruddin Amiruldin (BN – Jerai) said that imposing jail sentence and fines were not harsh enough for human traffickers.
Datuk Mohd Said Yusof (BN – Jasin) called for a heavier sentence to be imposed on repeat offenders as a deterrent measure.
Earlier, tabling the Bill for the second reading, Nazri said the Bill sought to provide specific action against human trafficking issues, including prosecution, prevention of crimes, and care and protection of victims.
“The country can become a hotspot for trans-boundary human trafficking crimes if preventive laws were inadequate,” he added.
Nazri will continue in his reply today.
.............................................
Three months enough for trafficking victims
The Star online. News Parliament. Friday May 11, 2007
THE three-month protection for victims of trafficking in the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Bill complies with the UN Protocol.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz said the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, stated that a foreign victim should not be held with undue or unreasonable delay.
“It is not that the Government is cruel for not wanting to protect the victims longer but this decision was made by a group of diplomats who felt that the victims must return home quickly,” he said.
A provision in the Bill seeks the Magistrate to make a Protection Order for a foreign victim of trafficking to be placed at a refuge not longer than three months for the purpose of recording evidence on oath before he or she is released to an Immigration officer.
The provision also says that if the victim is a Malaysian, the Protection Order can be up to two years and extended or revoked.
M. Kulasegaran (DAP – Ipoh Barat) had argued that three months was too short as the syndicates could probably track the victims after they were deported to their country.
He said the Government should issue temporary visas instead for the victims to stay in the country.
Nazri, however, said the victims would feel more comfortable to be back home with their family.
The Bill was passed unanimously in the House without amendments.
At The Dewan RakyatReports by ZULKIFLI A. RAHMAN, ELIZABETH LOOI AND FLORENCE A. SAMY
THERE is no punishment of whipping in the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Bill 2007 because this is frowned upon by the UN convention against such crimes.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz said whipping was also against the government’s intention to comply with the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children (TIP Protocol).
The protocol is under the UN Convention Against Transnational Organised Crime, which Malaysia had already ratified in September 2004, he added.
Nazri said that although whipping was not included in the Bill, the Government had proposed heavy prison sentences of up to 20 years for offenders involved in human trafficking.
“This punishment is harsh compared with other countries because in Europe, the jail term for human trafficking offenders is only from two to 10 years. The prison terms act as a strong deterrent,” he said when winding up the debate on the Bill.
Earlier while debating the Bill, several MPs had called on the Government to include whipping as a form of punishment in human trafficking.
Datuk Badruddin Amiruldin (BN – Jerai) said that imposing jail sentence and fines were not harsh enough for human traffickers.
Datuk Mohd Said Yusof (BN – Jasin) called for a heavier sentence to be imposed on repeat offenders as a deterrent measure.
Earlier, tabling the Bill for the second reading, Nazri said the Bill sought to provide specific action against human trafficking issues, including prosecution, prevention of crimes, and care and protection of victims.
“The country can become a hotspot for trans-boundary human trafficking crimes if preventive laws were inadequate,” he added.
Nazri will continue in his reply today.
.............................................
Three months enough for trafficking victims
The Star online. News Parliament. Friday May 11, 2007
THE three-month protection for victims of trafficking in the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Bill complies with the UN Protocol.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz said the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, stated that a foreign victim should not be held with undue or unreasonable delay.
“It is not that the Government is cruel for not wanting to protect the victims longer but this decision was made by a group of diplomats who felt that the victims must return home quickly,” he said.
A provision in the Bill seeks the Magistrate to make a Protection Order for a foreign victim of trafficking to be placed at a refuge not longer than three months for the purpose of recording evidence on oath before he or she is released to an Immigration officer.
The provision also says that if the victim is a Malaysian, the Protection Order can be up to two years and extended or revoked.
M. Kulasegaran (DAP – Ipoh Barat) had argued that three months was too short as the syndicates could probably track the victims after they were deported to their country.
He said the Government should issue temporary visas instead for the victims to stay in the country.
Nazri, however, said the victims would feel more comfortable to be back home with their family.
The Bill was passed unanimously in the House without amendments.
Monday, 30 April 2007
2007 03: Uncle lures teen into life of crime
The Star online. News. South & East. Wednesday March 28, 2007
KOTA KINABALU: A 16-year-old girl quit school and her uncle, 50, offered her a lucrative paying job.
The only problem was that the man had 11 previous criminal records and he got his niece involved in his business of packing and distributing the synthetic drug, syabu, from a house in Tuaran district, about 25km from the city.
Police got word of their activities and raided the house at Telipok Ria last week and recovered syabu with a street value of about RM23,000.
They arrested the girl and her uncle and two other men and seized more than RM82,000 of goods from the house including two cars.
Sabah police anti narcotics chief Supt Yap Toon Khuan said the police team found 38 packets of a crystal-like substance totalling 67.1g.
“The house was used as a packing centre for the syabu which was distributed to drug dealers around Tuaran, Kota Kinabalu and nearby districts,” he said recently.
“We believe the 50-year-old man is the mastermind of the operation,” Supt Yap said.
He said police also believe the group had been operating since the middle of last year.
KOTA KINABALU: A 16-year-old girl quit school and her uncle, 50, offered her a lucrative paying job.
The only problem was that the man had 11 previous criminal records and he got his niece involved in his business of packing and distributing the synthetic drug, syabu, from a house in Tuaran district, about 25km from the city.
Police got word of their activities and raided the house at Telipok Ria last week and recovered syabu with a street value of about RM23,000.
They arrested the girl and her uncle and two other men and seized more than RM82,000 of goods from the house including two cars.
Sabah police anti narcotics chief Supt Yap Toon Khuan said the police team found 38 packets of a crystal-like substance totalling 67.1g.
“The house was used as a packing centre for the syabu which was distributed to drug dealers around Tuaran, Kota Kinabalu and nearby districts,” he said recently.
“We believe the 50-year-old man is the mastermind of the operation,” Supt Yap said.
He said police also believe the group had been operating since the middle of last year.
Wednesday, 11 April 2007
2005 11: In denial about child trafficking
The Sun online. Speak up! Tue, 22 Nov 2005
THERE was an awkward silence when Prof Jaap Doek, the chairperson of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, revealed to editors at a luncheon on Saturday that Malaysia was one of only seven signatories to the Convention on the Rights of the Child that had yet to submit its country report to the UN.
The embarrassment deepened when Doek said in response to a question that the other delinquents were war-ravaged Afghanistan and a handful of Pacific island nations. Doek had information that the report had indeed been prepared, never mind that it is some nine years since the convention has been signed, and was with the A-G.
The urgency of the report was driven home to those present at the event, organised by Unicef in Kuala Lumpur in conjunction with the World Day for Prevention of Child Abuse, through a touching video presentation on child trafficking.
More than the stupefying fact that an estimated 1.2 million children are trafficked every year, it was the look of fear on a child sex worker who was filmed as she waited for her next abuser that told the story of their wretched lives.
Yet, while we lament about tragedies like our stubbornly high road fatalities, HIV/AIDS infections and drug addiction rates, these children, perhaps the most vulnerable of victims, are being forced every day into an existence that must make them wish for death.
Surely, there must be no crime more abominable than the exploitation of the innocent child, who stands for all that humanity can hope for. Unless it is the crass denial that the problem even exists in our country.
THERE was an awkward silence when Prof Jaap Doek, the chairperson of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, revealed to editors at a luncheon on Saturday that Malaysia was one of only seven signatories to the Convention on the Rights of the Child that had yet to submit its country report to the UN.
The embarrassment deepened when Doek said in response to a question that the other delinquents were war-ravaged Afghanistan and a handful of Pacific island nations. Doek had information that the report had indeed been prepared, never mind that it is some nine years since the convention has been signed, and was with the A-G.
The urgency of the report was driven home to those present at the event, organised by Unicef in Kuala Lumpur in conjunction with the World Day for Prevention of Child Abuse, through a touching video presentation on child trafficking.
More than the stupefying fact that an estimated 1.2 million children are trafficked every year, it was the look of fear on a child sex worker who was filmed as she waited for her next abuser that told the story of their wretched lives.
Yet, while we lament about tragedies like our stubbornly high road fatalities, HIV/AIDS infections and drug addiction rates, these children, perhaps the most vulnerable of victims, are being forced every day into an existence that must make them wish for death.
Surely, there must be no crime more abominable than the exploitation of the innocent child, who stands for all that humanity can hope for. Unless it is the crass denial that the problem even exists in our country.
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