Budget Hotels Used as Prostitution Hubs Raided in Seremban, 57 Arrested

SEREMBAN: The Malaysian Immigration Department (JIM) detained 57 people during an operation targeting alleged immoral activities at three locations in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, on Sunday, 23 August.

The operation began at 2.00pm and involved officers from the Intelligence and Special Operations Division at the Immigration Headquarters in Putrajaya, in cooperation with the embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Kuala Lumpur.

The operation was launched following information from the Indonesian Embassy concerning Indonesian nationals allegedly involved in immoral activities, together with intelligence gathered by JIM.

Among those detained were seven local men, three Indonesian men, 12 Bangladeshi men and three Myanmar men. Authorities also detained 26 Indonesian women, five Bangladeshi women and one Indian woman. All those detained were aged between 19 and 65.

During inspections of the premises, enforcement officers seized several Bangladeshi, Indian and Indonesian passports; mobile phones; premise keys; and condoms.

Preliminary investigations found that foreign women were allegedly accommodated at guesthouses and budget hotels rented on a daily basis or for periods ranging from one week to one month.

The premises were believed to have been managed and controlled by local and foreign nationals acting as “captains” or managers.

JIM said the foreign women were allegedly offering sexual services to both foreign and local customers, reportedly charging RM50 per service.

The activity is believed to have been operating for approximately one year under an organised management structure and was estimated to have generated about RM540,000 in annual profits.

Seven Malaysian nationals were detained for suspected offences under Section 56(1)(d) of the Immigration Act 1959/63. The foreign nationals were detained for suspected offences under Section 6(1)(c), Section 15(1)(c) and Regulation 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963.

All 57 individuals were taken to the Immigration Office for further investigation.

Immigration Director-General Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said the department would continue taking firm enforcement action against activities that violate Malaysian laws.

He stressed that continued enforcement was necessary to safeguard Malaysia’s peace, stability and prosperity.