Under investigation: The foreigners being questioned during the Immigration swoops on two restaurants in Shah Alam.
SHAH ALAM: An underaged male foreigner, suspected of being exploited for forced labour, has been rescued by Immigration officers following raids on two restaurants in Shah Alam.
Immigration deputy director-general (Operations) Jafri Embok Taha said the raids at about 10.30pm on Thursday also led to the arrest of 14 undocumented foreigners and two local employers.
“The raids were conducted following a tip-off that a group of foreigners was working without proper passes and there was also suspected human trafficking activity taking place.
“Apart from rescuing the underaged foreigner, we detained 14 other foreigners – four men and a woman from Myanmar, three men and three women from Indonesia, and three men from India – for immigration offences,” he said in a statement.
The department also issued summonses to four individuals to assist with the investigation, he added.
“We are investigating under Section 14 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (Atipsom), which is trafficking persons who are children, for the purpose of exploitation,” said Jafri.
“We will take stern action against any parties that commit offences under Atipsom.
“We also urge the public to contact the department should they have information on human trafficking cases or the smuggling of migrants,” he said.
