‘Mobile prostitution ring’ busted in Melaka, eight arrested

 

MELAKA: The state Immigration Department has busted a "mobile prostitution ring" during raids at several hotels in Taman Melaka Raya here.

Its director Anirwan Fauzee Mohd Aini said seven women - five Thais and two Indonesians - were arrested at 2am on Thursday (May 25).

"One Thai man was also arrested at one of the hotels and all had no valid travel documents," he said.

He said the syndicate operated by moving into different hotels and had set up chats on WeChat to communicate with customers.

Anirwan Fauzee said based on the preliminary findings, it was discovered that the women charged between RM230 and RM800 to each customer for their services.

He said condoms, lubricants and mobile phones were among the items seized during the raids.

Anirwan Fauzee said clients present during the raids and hotel managers had been told to give their statements in order to assist in the investigations.

He also said 33 immigrants working at a recycling factory at Bukit Rambai Industrial Area here were detained for various offences under Ops Mahir on the same day (May 25).

"Some of them ran helter-skelter upon seeing the enforcement officers while some tried to climb over the factory fence in a bid to escape into a nearby jungle.

"Few of the immigrants were also injured when they stepped on zinc sheets while jumping over the fence and all of them managed to be nabbed," he said.

Anirwan Fauzee said those detained were Myanmarese, Thais, Chinese nationals, Indonesians and Bangladeshis and they will be investigated under various Sections of the Immigration Act 1959/63 (Amendment 2002).

"Those detained were aged between 19 to 43, and the operation was held after collecting information from the public," he said.

He added the factory owner has also been summoned to assist in investigations for harbouring the illegal immigrants. - Star