Seven Indonesian women forced into prostitution rescued

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KOTA KINABALU: Seven Indonesian women who came to the state capital to seek a better life were forced into prostitution instead.

The women, aged 20 to 41, were kept under tight watch of two pimps, a man from the peninsula and a local woman, who confined them in an apartment in Inanam.

Their ordeal came to an end when a team from the Criminal Investigation Department D7 branch raided the apartment on Dec 31, 2012 at 2.15pm.

City police chief ACP Jauteh Dikin said, the raid was carried out following a tip-off about human trafficking activities in the area.

“Police have detained the couple, a 42-year-old man from Selangor and a 20-year-old local woman, for further investigation,” he told a press conference at the city police headquarters in Karamunsing here yesterday.

Jauteh said police investigations revealed that all the victims had entered the country legally with promises of jobs in restaurants.

He said some of the victims have been staying in the country for nearly a year while the others had just entered the country a short while ago.

“The women were confined in the apartment and forced into prostitution, offering sex service for RM150 per session.

“They are now being placed under the care of the welfare department for further action,” said Jauteh, adding that the case is being investigated under Section 13 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act 2007.