Monday May 12, 2008 MYT 6:55:41 PM

14 held, 1,800 condoms seized at gay joint

By BERNARD SEE

PENANG: Police detained 14 men in a fitness and sauna centre believed to be a front for gay activities in Jalan Fettes here.

In the 6pm raid on Saturday, police from the state anti-vice department also seized 1,800 pieces of condoms from the premises.

George Town OCPD Asst Comm Azam Abd Hamid said six men, all naked, were caught in three toilets while the others were found patronising the joint.

“We also found used condoms littered all over the place.”

He said the suspects, aged between 20 and 30, had been remanded to assist in investigations into immoral activities at the centre.

He said police raided the premises after keeping it under surveillance for a while.

“This was the third time the centre was raided since last November.”

He said police would make a recommendation to the local authorities to close down the centre.

On Nov 5 last year, police raided the centre and discovered it was used to host a sex party. They rounded up 34 men, aged between 22 and 55. Among those arrested was a Briton.

ACP Azam said the raid was part of an on-going operation codenamed Ops Rose aimed at curbing immoral activities and “cleaning” up places like Leith Street, Penang Road and the Esplanade frequented by transvestites.

More News