Court grants interim protection to Indian nationals

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SIBU: The Sessions Court here yesterday granted interim protection to 15 Indian nationals from their agents following a request from the prosecution.

Judge Caroline Bee Manjali granted the request for protection under Interim Protection Order of the Trafficking In-Persons Act 2007.

Two consuls of the Indian High Commission were present to assist the 15 Indian nationals.

The 15, aged between 21 and 27, were brought in by eight of their agents who were also Indian nationals after paying them certain amounts of fees.

They were promised jobs in the shipping industry here which did not materialise.

The case came to light when one of the victims walked into the central police station on Thursday, telling the police that he was deceived by his agent who promised him a job.

He said after two weeks in the town, there was still no job for him.

He also claimed that his agent beat him up when he inquired about the promised job.

After the assault he managed to escape to seek help from the police.

This led the police to rescue the rest of the victims from two different locations – five from a hotel in Cross Road on May 14 while the other group was found on May 16.

The first arrest of two suspects was made on May 16 at a lodging house in Market Road.

The 15 victims will be sent to a protection centre in Tanjung Keling in Melaka.