Couple nabbed in Penang after Cambodian domestic worker found with signs of physical torture
Thursday, 25 Feb 2021 10:03 AM MYT
BY OPALYN MOK

SEBERANG PERAI, Feb 25 — The police arrested a married couple last night for investigations into the alleged abuse of their domestic worker in Bukit Mertajam here.

Central Seberang Perai district police chief Asst Comm Shafee Samad said the couple, in their 50s and 60s, were arrested at a house in Jalan Perpaduan in Kampung Baru Bukit Mertajam based on information reported to the police.

“We received the tip off about a Cambodian domestic worker who was abused at about 9.30pm last night and a team went to the house to investigate,” he said.

He said the Cambodian, in her 30s, was found lying on the floor in one of the rooms in the house.

“A physical examination of the domestic worker found several injuries on her face, burn scars on her arms, old stitches and other injuries on her body and legs,” he said.

After she was rescued, the woman told the police her employer, the wife, physically abused her.

“The employer allegedly beat her, poured hot water on her and pinched her repeatedly,” he said, adding that the woman has been working for the couple for two years.

The Cambodian woman was sent to the Seberang Jaya Hospital for treatment while the couple were immediately detained to assist in investigations.

Shafee said the case will be investigated under Section 13 and 44 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act (ATIPSOM) 2007 for abuse of the vulnerability of a person and to allow the police to take the person into temporary custody.

Section 13 of ATIPSOM carries a prison sentence of between three and 20 years and a fine upon conviction.
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia ... of/1952703

UPDATE
Mother and daughter charged with trafficking Cambodian maid
By N. TRISHA
Friday, 19 Mar 2021
4:37 PM MYT

BUTTERWORTH: A woman and her daughter have been jointly charged with trafficking their Cambodian maid for the purpose of exploitation through forced labour.

Teoh Beng Sim, 57, and Teh Hooi Fung, 36, pleaded not guilty to the charge which was read to them in Mandarin by the court interpreter before Judge Noor Aini Yusof at the Sessions Court here on Friday (March 19).

Teoh, a housewife, and Teh, a sales executive, were charged with trafficking the 27-year-old victim for the purpose of exploitation by use of force at a house in Jalan Perpaduan, Kampung Baru in Bukit Mertajam, about 10.45pm on Feb 24.

The accused, represented by Datuk Supramaniam Kasia Pillai, were jointly charged under Section 13 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (Atipsom) Act 2007, read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code.

The offence carries imprisonment for a term not less than three years but not exceeding 20 years and a fine upon conviction.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Muhamad Syeqal Che Murat did not offer bail.

Supramaniam, however, requested the court to grant bail, saying his clients are currently released on police bail.

“They have rendered their fullest cooperation to the police during the course of their investigation.

“There is no possibility of them absconding or not attending proceedings as they have their own house and family in Bukit Mertajam, ” he said.

He said his clients paid several thousand ringgit to an employment agency to hire the maid.

Noor Aini set bail at RM15,000 with one surety each and set April 19 for mention.

Noor Aini said the accused were required to report to the nearest police station on the 15th of every month until the end of the trial proper.

Last month, police detained four people, including a husband and wife, on suspicion of abusing their Cambodian maid.

Initial investigations suggested that the couple's daughter was involved in the abuse as well.

Based on the victim's statement, she was hit and even scalded with hot water and the bruises on her body indicated she sustained repeated beatings.

Checks on the victim showed that she had injuries to her face, scald marks on her arms, stitches as well as scratch wounds on her body and legs.

Further checks also showed that the maid was not paid her wages since being hired two years ago, though she was told that her wages would be given to her when she eventually returns to Cambodia.

The victim is now at a safe house after undergoing treatment at the Seberang Jaya Hospital.
https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/ ... odian-maid

Postponed: Trial of mother and daughter charged with trafficking Cambodian domestic helper
By LO TERN CHERN
Monday, 19 Apr 2021
12:04 PM MYT

BUTTERWORTH: The trial of a mother and daughter jointly charged with trafficking their Cambodian domestic helper for the purpose of exploitation through forced labour has been postponed to May.

Sessions Court Judge Noor Aini Yusof set May 19 for case management and ordered that bail for Teoh Beng Sim, 57, and Teh Hooi Fung, 36, be extended during their case mention on Monday (April 19).

On March 19, Teoh and Teh pleaded not guilty to trafficking the 27-year-old victim for the purpose of exploitation by use of force at a house in Jalan Perpaduan, Kampung Baru, in Bukit Mertajam, at about 10.45pm on Feb 24.

They were jointly charged under Section 13 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (Atipsom) Act 2007, read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code.

The offence carries a punishment of imprisonment for at least three years but not more than 20 years and a fine upon conviction.

They were among four people, including a husband and wife, detained earlier by police on suspicion of abusing their Cambodian domestic helper.
Initial investigations suggested that the couple's daughter was involved in the abuse as well.
https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/ ... tic-helper