KUALA LUMPUR: A Filipino woman has been arrested for luring 12 women from the Philippines to be sex workers.The 58-year-old woman was arrested when the police raided a flat in Jalan Imbi, where the 12 women were freed, at noon on Dec 11, said Bukit Aman Secret Societies, Gaming and Anti-vice Division senior assistant director Datuk Ahmad Sofian Md Yassin.
He said the women aged between 19 and 31, who were promised jobs in restaurants and entertainment outlets, were in the capital between one week and one month and their travels were paid for by a prostitution syndicate.
“The raid was conducted based on information relayed by the Philippines Embassy in Malaysia. The syndicate seldom operate from one location in a bid to avoid detection,” he told reporters here yesterday.
The women, who arrived via the KL International Airport, were confined to the flat before they were taken by prostitution agents to meet their clients, he said, adding that the police would verify their passports with the Immigration Department.
He said the case was being investigated under the Anti-Human Trafficking Act 2007.
Ahmad Sofian said the police made more arrests since the introduction of the act in efforts to curb vice activities, gangsterism and human trafficking.
A total of 173 people were arrested under the act so far this year compared to 19 last year, he said, adding 16 people had been charged in court under the act this year. — Bernama