Clout to Act Against Human Traffickers: What the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Bill provides...
THE Government yesterday tabled the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Bill to provide the means to fight the traffic in human beings — particularly women and children. The bill will provide protection for women and children and make it easier for the police, immigration and other authorities to pursue, prosecute and convict human traffickers.It will arm the government with power to clamp down on anyone involved in the trading of humans.
Anyone found guilty of trafficking in humans will face a maximum jail term of 15 years while those caught using threats or deception to traffic in humans will face a jail term of between three and 20 years.
Victims will not be prosecuted for illegal entry but will be placed in half-way houses. Currently, they are sent to Immigration detention centres and not treated as victims of trafficking.
The move comes in the wake of allegations that Malaysia is becoming a transit point for human trafficking. Police statistics show that 371 foreign women were rescued between 2004 and last year in the country.
The Anti-Trafficking in Persons Bill 2007 was tabled in parliament for first reading yesterday.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said: "Currently, there is no legislation which tackles human trafficking. This law will address the concerns raised about human trafficking and arm enforcement agencies with the tools to fight it."
The bill would be passed in the current sitting, Nazri said at the parliament lobby. He said once the bill was passed, the government could ratify the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, which supplements the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime (Untoc).
Nazri said the government had ratified Untoc but was unable to implement the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons as there was no legislation to cater to this.
He said the bill would provide protection to women and children and make sure the authorities had laws to charge those involved in trafficking.
Under the bill, any person who trafficks for the purpose of exploitation, shall on conviction be punished with imprisonment not exceeding 15 years, and be liable to a fine upon conviction.
The bill also provides for those who use threats, force, coercion, fraud or deception to be punished by a jail term of not less than three years but not more than 20 years and a fine.
Those caught trafficking in children can be jailed for between three and 20 years. Those who profit from the exploitation of a trafficked person face a sentence of 15 years, and a fine of between RM50,000 and RM500,000.
Anyone found guilty of recruiting people will face a jail term not exceeding 10 years plus a fine. Those who provide financial services or facilities to traffickers also face punishment, including imprisonment of up to 10 years.
The victim or trafficked person will not be prosecuted for illegal entry, or charged for entering the country with fraudulent documents provided by the trafficker. Medical care will be extended to victims and they can be moved from one safe house to another for additional protection.
The bill addresses the perennial concern of those who become informants: They will be protected and they will remain anonymous.
When the trafficked person is a Malaysian or permanent resident, the parent or guardian can apply to have the person removed from a half-way house and put under his custody.
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Wednesday/Frontpage/20070425074548/Article/index_html
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