Startling rise in human trafficking, migrant smuggling cases: AGC

MALACCA: The number of cases under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (Act 670) brought to court rose significantly with 253 cases up to Nov 24 compared to 38 during the same period last year.

Solicitor General II, Datin Paduka Zauyah Be T. Loth Khan said as at Nov 24, there had been 91 convictions under Act 670 compared to only seven over the same period last year.

She said from the 91 convictions, 71 cases involved human trafficking under Sections 12, 13, and 14 of Act 670.

"This is followed by 12 cases of human trafficking under the Penal Code and Immigration Act 1959/63 (Revised in 1975) (Act 155) and eight cases of migrant smuggling under Sections 26A and 26J of Act 670," she said.

She was speaking at the opening of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act Conference in Bandar Hilir, here, today.
About 50 participants from enforcement agencies including police, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) and Immigration Department are attending the four-day conference which began yesterday.

The programme organised by the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) is aimed at providing a platform for the participants to deliberate on improvements in approach so that Malaysia could be recognised and placed on Tier 1 of the US Tip Report by 2020.

Zauyah Be said following the increase in cases, the AGC with the enforcement agencies involved took proactive measures to ensure investigations and prosecution of offences under Act 670 were handled more effectively so that the parties involved in such activities were brought to justice.

She said the successes achieved by the AGC in handling the offences under the Act proved the high commitment to combat human trafficking and migrant smuggling in the country.

"Despite various initiatives implemented and the commitment given to tackle the issue, I must stress that prosecution and conviction in court in each case is based on evidence and testimonies," she said.
Meanwhile, Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali (pix) in a statement today said from the investigations into the discovery of mass graves in Wang Kelian, Perlis last year, 15 people had been charged in court and three of the accused were convicted under Section 26A of Act 670 while another was still on trial at the Kangar High Court.

He said the AGC had also submitted 10 applications to the Thai government and one to the Bangladeshi government to extradite their respective citizens believed involved with human trafficking syndicates in Wang Kelian.

"Apart from that, there were 106 reports of sudden deaths referred to the Perlis magistrate for inquests to be conducted," he said. — Bernama