Immigration Dept Busts Prostitution Hostess Syndicates In Kl And Nilai 58 Arrested

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The two operations, carried out on Sept 5 and 6, saw 58 foreign nationals arrested. PIC COURTESY IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENTKUALA LUMPUR: A prostitution ring operating out of a three-star hotel here and a hostess syndicate managed by Myanmar nationals in Nilai, Negri Sembilan, have been dismantled following back-to-back raids by the Immigration Department.
The two operations, carried out on Sept 5 and 6 after weeks of intelligence gathering, saw 58 foreign nationals arrested — many without valid travel documents or for overstaying their visas.
Immigration Department director general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said on Sept 5, a special operations team from the Immigration Department headquarters in Putrajaya raided a hotel around 8.45pm.
"Officers detained 37 individuals aged between 19 and 61 — comprising two Myanmar men, one Indian man, one Indonesian man, 17 Indonesian women, nine Thai women, six Vietnamese women, and one Laotian woman.
"Checks revealed that several had misused their passes, while others had either overstayed or entered the country without valid documents," he said in a statement today.
He added that investigators also seized employment contracts, along with Thai, Vietnamese, Indonesian and Laotian passports.
"Authorities believe the hotel was being used as a prostitution hub, with customers selecting women through WhatsApp or by walking in.
"Rates ranged between RM250 and RM400 per hour, with the business believed to have been in operation since September last year," he said.
Zakaria added in Nilai, Negri Sembilan, another special operation was launched just after midnight on Sept 6.
"Officers raided an entertainment centre managed by Myanmar nationals, detaining 21 women between the ages of 25 and 40.
"Among them was one suspected caretaker of the premises and 20 women believed to be working as hostesses," he said, adding that eight had overstayed their visas, while 13 had no valid documents.
He said investigators seized transaction records and seven mobile phones.
"The entertainment centre, which catered exclusively to Myanmar nationals, operated only on weekends and required patrons to purchase alcohol to enter.
"Customers could also hire hostesses for between RM150 and RM200 per person.
"The outlet is believed to have been active for the past three months," he said, adding that all those arrested are being investigated under various provisions of the Immigration Act 1959/63 and Immigration Regulations 1963, covering offences such as overstaying, misuse of passes, and entering Malaysia without valid permits.
He said seven Malaysian men linked to the hotel operation and six Myanmar nationals connected to the Nilai entertainment centre were issued notices to assist investigations.
"The department will intensify enforcement to curb illegal entry and the presence of undocumented migrants.
"This is in line with the Malaysia Madani aspiration, which prioritises the people's wellbeing and upholds the rule of law," he said. - NST

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