18 who were rescued from palm oil plantation placed at four shelter homes

IPOH: The 18 victims including seven children who were rescued from a couple at an oil palm plantation in Pengkalan Hulu have been placed at four shelter homes.
Perak CID chief Datuk Gan Tian Kee said they were sent to Rumah Perlindungan Kanak-Kanak Perempuan Rembau, Negri Sembilan, Rumah Perlindungan Dewasa Perempuan, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Rumah Perlindungan Kanak-Kanak Lelaki, Johor and Rumah Perlindungan Lelaki Dewasa, Tanjung Keling, Malacca.
"They will be placed at the homes from Feb 27 to March 9 under the Interim Protection Order," he added.
"The husband and wife who managed the plantation and allegedly committed the offence have been remanded until March 3 to facilitate investigation."
On Sunday, a police team rescued 18 people including seven children who were forced to work with little or no pay at an oil palm oil plantation, Belukar Semang, Kampung Tasek in Pengkalan Hulu, Hulu Perak district.
The man aged 43 and the 24-year-old woman, who are Malaysians were also detained at the same location.
The victims included five men and six women aged 27 and 64, three boys and four girls aged between two to 17. All of them are Malaysians.
The case is being investigated under Section 13 and 14 of the Anti Trafficking in Persons and Anti Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007.
One of the victims told police the woman would beat them up if they refused to work in the plantation and were also cheated of their wages.
The workers will be threatened and beaten if they enquire about their salaries. The children were forced to work without any wages.
Police also seized several documents including identity cards,temporary identity documents, birth certificates, insurance policies, diaries, notebooks and Companies Commission of Malaysia documents.
A car and a lorry were also seized.
The victims were promised a salary of RM900 but were only paid RM100. The seven children were of two couples who also worked at the plantation.
They have been working between four months and two years.
The couple were engaged by the plantation owners as contractors to employ workers.
Pengkalan Hulu district police chief DSP Raduan Mohamad said the plantation will be allowed to continue to operate as usual.