Domestic helper, cleaner syndicate in Pahang busted

The Immigration Department has rescued 10 Indonesian women from two premises linked to a maid recruitment agency in Temerloh, Pahang, that exploited them as non-live-in daily domestic helpers and cleaners.

Immigration director-general Ruslin Jusoh said the special operation on May 16 nabbed another Indonesian woman who held an expired social visit pass and was believed to be in charge of the victims.

The victims, who possessed expired social visit passes, were brought in by a maid recruitment agency whose Malaysian owner was also arrested.

“The syndicate’s modus operandi was to offer the services of migrant women as daily domestic helpers and cleaners at houses determined by the syndicate.

“Homeowners interested to get their services will contact the agency, set the date, as well as arrange to pick them up and send them back afterwards,” he said.

He said each homeowner would be charged between RM150 and RM250 for one day and the syndicate, believed to have been operating since two years ago, collected close to RM2 million from this service.

According to Ruslin, the victims also admitted they never received any salary from the syndicate.

Further, they were also denied basic freedoms like rest days and the use of mobile phones to contact their family members back home.

All of the arrested migrants were taken to the Putrajaya Immigration depot, while the Malaysian agency owner was released on police bail after questioning. - Mkini