Volunteers held for attack on migrants

The Straits Times, March 5, 2007


KUALA LUMPUR - POLICE have detained eight volunteer corps men for allegedly beating up Nepalese migrant workers during an operation to find illegal immigrants.

The volunteers, who were not identified, were part of a 40-member team raiding a cabin at a timber factory near the town of Banting, about 40km west of Kuala Lumpur, where 10 Nepalese workers were asleep late last Friday.

The New Straits Times reported that the attackers falsely identified themselves as police officers, detained eight workers for not having proper documents and smashed a television set and other electrical items before leaving.

Two other workers were injured. The Nepalese and their employer lodged a police report on the incident. A police spokesman declined to comment on the report, citing continuing investigations.

The Malaysian volunteer corps assists immigration officials and police to nab illegals, and must inform the authorities of any action it plans to take. Police say they were not informed about last Friday's raid.

Separately, 43 foreigners were nabbed by a team of volunteer corps men and railway police during a spot check aboard two commuter trains in Kuala Lumpur.

Officers conducting the checks, held for the first time, randomly selected commuters to check their identity documents, The Star newspaper reported.

Men and women from Indonesia, Nepal, India, Myanmar, Pakistan, Bangladesh and several African countries detained during the check on Saturday were handed over to immigration officials, the report added.

ASSOCIATED PRESS