Eight suspects nabbed in Labour Day eve khalwat raid

Two Indonesians were among eight people detained by the Johor Islamic Religious Department (JAINJ) in an anti-vice operation held on the eve of Labour Day in the Tampoi district.

JAINJ assistant enforcement director Mohd Hafiz Abdul Rahman said the eight were nabbed on suspicion of close proximity (khalwat) during a raid at three low-budget hotels in Taman Tampoi Utama and Taman Tampoi Indah.

The two-hour operation began at midnight.

Mohd Hafiz said the suspects aged between 23 and 27 would be investigated under Section 27 of the Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment 1997 for close proximity.

Upon conviction, they could be fined up to RM3,000 or imprisoned two years, he told Bernama in Johor Baru today.

He said JAINJ operations focused on low-budget hotels in the Johor Jaya, Tampoi and Skudai areas as they were considered "haunts" for unmarried couples.

- Bernama