By M. MAGESWARI
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.
The victim had been kept at a hotel here alone for a week and forbidden from leaving the room. Punitha would send her food and drinks twice daily.
Punitha told the victim that she was continuously watched and would be beaten up by hired gangsters if she did not follow orders.
The victim entertained between 20 and 25 customers daily and all the money gained from prostitution was seized by Punitha.
The victim was also forced to have sex with customers of a hotel near Punitha's rented house.
The victim managed to escape with the help of a taxi driver who sent her to the Indian Embassy. She lodged a lodged a report at the Sentul district police on Dec 7.
At the court proceedings, Punitha, clad in a blue saree, repeatedly cried and begged Sessions Court judge Mohd Nasir Nordin for leniency.
"I am illiterate. I am an orphan. I will not return to Malaysia anymore. I just want to return to my country after serving my sentence here," she said in between sobs, addressing the judge as Devame (God).
Punitha also said that she had to take care of her child, two brothers, two sisters and her mother, who had been hospitalised with a broken leg.
"My husband has left me. I do not know what else to say to beg for a lower sentence," she tearfully said, and slapped her cheeks.
DPP Adilla Ahmad pressed for a deterrent sentence saying that the court had to taken into consideration the fact that the victim had been tortured and that the case involved public interest.
In sentencing her, Mohd Nasir said the court had to give a message to the public on the seriousness of the offence and efforts taken by the Government to curb such activities.
He ordered Punitha to serve her jail term from her date of arrest on Dec 7.
Upon hearing the verdict, Punitha, both hands pressed to her head, shouted: "Ayoh, my God." She then continuously hit her chest and yelled that she was not guilty of the crime.
