Melaka Immigration Arrests 13 Waitresses, Two Foreign Cooks

MELAKA, Dec 27 (Bernama) -- Thirteen waitresses and two foreign male cooks were detained in a raid conducted at entertainment cafés around Batu Berendam last night.

Melaka Immigration director Anirwan Fauzee Mohd Aini said all those arrested were foreign nationals from Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar, aged between 20 and 45.

"The operation, which involved 16 Melaka Immigration officers over an hour, was conducted following complaints received from the public and local residents.

"The premises raided were restaurants and unlicensed establishments that had been turned into entertainment centres and they were suspected of employing foreign workers and operating in the past two months," he said in a statement today.

Anirwan added that all those detained were found to be without any identification documents, had overstayed without valid passes or permits, and had violated the conditions of their passes or permits, among other offences under the Immigration Act and Regulations.

He also said that two summonses (Form 29) had been issued to witnesses, requiring them to turn up at the Melaka Immigration office to provide statements and assist with the investigation.

"We are also tracking down the owners of the entertainment cafés for further action, and all the foreign nationals have been taken to the Immigration Enforcement Division for further investigation," he said.

-- BERNAMA