SEPANG: Twelve Afghan and four Myanmar nationals have fled from the KL International Airport immigration detention depot where they were being sheltered as victims of human trafficking.
Immigration Director-General Datuk Abdul Rahman Othman said the foreigners, all men aged between 22 and 48, are believed to have made their escape between 5am and 7am on Saturday.
“The gate was cut for the them to squeeze through, and we believe they scaled the fences before fleeing,” said Abdul Rahman at a press conference at the depot yesterday.
The department has launched a joint search with police to track down the escapees, he said.
Abdul Rahman said the Afghans were picked up by marine police about 10km off the coast of Tanjung Karang in October last year as they were trying to reach a boat to take them to Indonesia en route to Australia.
Three of the Myanmar nationals were picked up in December last year while the other was held last month.
“I want to remind the public that providing shelter to these people is against the law and anyone with information on them should contact us or the nearest police station immediately,” he said.
The department has begun an internal investigation to see if there was negligence by immigration personnel.
Those with information are urged to contact Selangor immigration director Johari Yusof at 019-264-9061 or his deputy Zainol Azalan Daud at 013-981-1767.
Abdul Rahman said the department believed the 16 were still in the country.
“This is a large group of people and it is impossible for them to have evaded all efforts to trace them unless there is someone helping them.”
He said that anyone who provided shelter to them could be prosecuted, and the penalty was a maximum jail term of 15 years and a fine of up to RM50,000.
About 100 foreign nationals who are victims of human traffickers have been placed at the depot, separated from detained illegal immigrants.
Source :http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/3/29/nation/5953022&sec=nation
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