Malaysia toughens people-smuggling laws, tripling prison sentences and raising fines

MALAYSIA is tripling prison sentences and imposing stiff fines for people-smugglers, who often use the nation as a transit point to Australia.

Parliament's upper house is expected to approve changes to strengthen laws against human trafficking next week, a parliament official said on condition of anonymity.

The amendments were passed by parliament's lower house earlier this month, and the senate's approval will enable them to be enforced.

Malaysia has become a magnet for people from impoverished or war-torn places looking for work illegally or seeking a transit point to sneak into other nations, especially Australia.

Officials say these people sometimes fall prey to forced labour and sexual exploitation by human trafficking networks.

The government says it has rescued more than 1200 such victims since 2008 and brought 155 cases before the courts. Nine people have been convicted so far for people smuggling.

The changes to the law effectively triple the maximum prison sentence for offenders who help foreigners enter or leave Malaysia without valid travel documents to 15 years.

If the migrants are exploited, treated cruelly or placed in danger, the penalty can be as high as 20 years in prison.

The maximum fine for human trafficking will be increased by 10 times to $348,000. Those convicted will also have to pay the government all the profits they made and fork out the cost of hosting and deporting the migrants.

The changes are also expected to make it easier for prosecutors to secure convictions.

(Published by The Australian - July 29, 2010)