POLICE have busted a human trafficking syndicate that exploited secondary school students as prostitutes, in a series of special operations between July 24 and 29.
Keningau District Police Chief, Superintendent Yampil Anak Garai said investigations found that the syndicate was recruiting teenage girls, including two form two students, to be prostituted to customers.
"The activity was uncovered after the victims' parents filed a report on July 24.
"Following that, a team from the Keningau IPD Criminal Investigation Division rescued four victims aged 13 to 21 and arrested eight individuals to assist in the investigation," he said as reported by Harian Metro today.
According to him, an 18-year-old teenage girl known as 'Elly' suspected of acting as a prostitute has been charged in court under Section 14 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007.
He said the syndicate used social media to find customers with a fee of around RM200 for each service before the victims were sent to a designated hotel.
The proceeds of the payment were then divided between the suspect and the victim.
"All victims have been taken to Keningau Hospital for medical check-ups and placed at the Women and Children's Shelter.
"For the two minor victims, the court approved a three-month Protection Order and they were placed at the Ampang Shelter, Selangor until November 13," he said. – August 16, 2025
