First to be convicted under anti-trafficking law
KUALA LUMPUR: An Indian national was jailed eight years for forcing a 33-year-old woman
who had been promised a maid’s job into prostitution.
Punitha Raja, 32, became the first person to be convicted under Section 13 of the Anti-Trafficking In Persons Act 2007.
She knelt down in the dock, clasped her hands together and admitted to having trafficked her fellow country woman for the purpose of exploitation by means of threats and the use of force.
She pleaded guilty to committing the offence at her rented house in Jalan Kolam Air 5 in Sentul at 2.40pm on Dec 7.
The court was told Monday that the victim had been promised a maid’s job with a monthly salary of between RM300 and RM500 by her Indian agent here.
Upon reaching Malaysia, the victim was surrendered to Punitha, who forced her into prostitution.
When the victim begged not to be forced to do the job, Punitha scolded, assaulted, slapped her in the face and pulled her hair roughly.
Punitha had also threatened the victim by saying that she would hire gangsters to kill her family in India if she refused to be a prostitute.
Thamuselage Elamata Api Wedee denawa Kiyala Ubalage Maha Ekata Kiyapannn
