Hulu terengganu: Police rescued three Bangladeshi men during Op Pintas at a construction site in Hulu Terengganu yesterday.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Hulu Terengganu district police chief Supt Sharudin Abdul Wahab stated that the raid was executed around 4:30 pm by the Terengganu police contingent headquarters Criminal Investigation Department (CID) D7 division, in collaboration with the Hulu Terengganu district police headquarters.

A 46-year-old local man, believed to be the employer of the three Bangladeshi nationals aged between 29 and 44, was apprehended during the operation. The police rescued the men, who are suspected to be victims of forced labor. Initial investigations revealed that they were employed as construction workers with irregular working hours and had not received any wages for five months. As a consequence, they resorted to fishing and foraging for forest produce around Tasik Kenyir for sustenance.

Further investigations disclosed that the suspect had failed to provide proper accommodation and had confiscated and retained the victims' passports and work permits. The victims will undergo medical examinations following the completion of the process for an Interim Protection Order (IPO).

The case is under investigation under Sections 44 and 12 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act (ATIPSOM) 2007. Police emphasize the seriousness of human trafficking offences and pledge to continue taking decisive action. They urge members of the public with pertinent information to assist in the investigations.