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KOTA KINABALU: Kapayan assemblywoman Datuk Jannie Lasimbang (pic) said the recent human trafficking case in Keningau involving four girls, including minors, is a betrayal of the dignity and future of children.

She said the police’s swift action in rescuing the victims and placing them in protective shelters was commendable, but investigations must go deeper to uncover the masterminds behind the exploitation.

In a statement on Monday, she said those who purchase sex from minors should be treated as perpetrators of statutory rape, and premises that enable such crimes must also be held accountable.

She added that a holistic approach is needed, one that not only punishes perpetrators but also ensures survivors are given long-term care, education, psychological support and pathways to rebuild their lives without stigma.

Jannie said this case is a stark reminder that trafficking thrives because of demand and organised networks, and urged the authorities to dismantle the entire machinery by bringing both the masterminds and buyers to justice.