3 Migrant Workers Chained, Beaten, And Starved For Months In Pahang
The men were rescued by local police on Saturday, 13 July.
Three Indian nationals had been chained, abused, and starved for months in Pahang before being rescued on Saturday, 13 July
Astro Awani reported that the men, aged between 33 and 48, are believed to be victims of human trafficking.
They were trapped in Kampung Jeram Bungor Kerambit in Lipis, Pahang.
The men, who were all married, entered Malaysia between September 2018 and April this year
Lipis district police chief Supt Azli Mohd Noor revealed that the victims had used the services of an agent in India after being promised jobs at a palm oil plantation in Malaysia, reported New Straits Times.
However, the men's passports and mobile phones were confiscated by a child of the employer as soon as they arrived at the plantation from KLIA.
They have since been used as forced labour at the plantation.
One of the victims revealed to the police that he had only been paid RM600 since his arrival at the plantation in mid-December
"The man also claimed that apart from being beaten, he was also forced to work 12 hours daily without breaks or off days," Supt Azli was quoted as saying by Sin Chew Daily.
Moreover, a 48-year-old victim was found chained by his ankle for about a month, according to Supt Azli.
Image via Astro Awani
"Within a month, the 48-year-old man was also beaten and abused. His right arm was broken as a result of it," the police chief added.
The men were eventually rescued after one of them managed to escape on Saturday and lodged a police report over the abuse
Image via Sin Chew Daily
A 36-year-old man, who was believed to have been abusing and starving the victims, was arrested by the police on the same day, reported New Straits Times.
The suspect was picked up at a restaurant near the plantation, and the other two victims were then rescued.
According to Supt Azli, the 36-year-old has been remanded for four days beginning yesterday, 14 July.
The case is being investigated under Section 13 of the Anti-Trafficking In Persons And Anti-Smuggling Of Migrants Act 2007.
In 2016, an exposé by The Guardian revealed the living conditions of migrant workers in Malaysia:
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