JIM Raids Five-Star Entertainment Centre, Detains 152 Foreigners

KUALA LUMPUR, May 15 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Immigration Department (JIM) detained 152 foreign nationals in a raid on a five-star entertainment centre believed to have been offering prostitution packages involving foreign nationals at a hotel in the Changkat area near here, early this morning.

Its director-general, Datuk Zakaria Shaaban, said the operation was carried out following public complaints and two weeks of intelligence by the Putrajaya Immigration Enforcement Division before the raid was conducted at about 1.30 am.

"A total of 243 individuals were inspected, involving 194 foreigners and 49 locals. In the inspection, 152 foreigners were detained. The individuals comprised 129 Chinese nationals, two Taiwanese, five Vietnamese, five Myanmar nationals, eight Bangladeshis, and one each from Indonesia, Turkey and Vanuatu.

"All individuals, aged between 21 and 32 years, were detained under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and Regulation 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963, in addition to 17 summonses to witnesses (Form 29) issued during the operation," he said in a statement today.

Zakaria said the entertainment centre operating on the first to sixth floors of a three-star hotel is believed to have started operating three months ago and only accepts VVIP customers.

"The premises are tightly guarded by security personnel and access is only granted to certain customers, with room prices starting from RM50,000 to as high as RM100,000 for exclusive rooms that can be subscribed to for more than 24 hours," he said.

According to him, when the raid was conducted, several foreigners seemed to be in a daze and were engrossed in loud music, unaware of the presence of the enforcement team.

He said all the foreign nationals involved were detained under Section 51(5)(b) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 before being placed at the Putrajaya Immigration Detention Depot for further investigation. The operation involved 131 Immigration officers and personnel in collaboration with the Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM).

"JIM will not compromise on foreigners who stay illegally, overstay, or misuse passes in this country. Strict action will also be taken against any party that employs or shelters illegal immigrants," he said.

Bernama, which also followed the operation, found that the premises had several rooms that were mostly rented by foreign nationals from China, in addition to discovering several items suspected to be used for drug abuse activities.

-- BERNAMA