IPOH: A prostitution ring has been shut down by the Immigration Department during a special operation at five premises here.
Immigration Department deputy director-general (operations) Jafri Embok Taha said the operation, which was conducted at two prostitution dens and three entertainment outlets on Friday (Jan 12), saw the arrests of 141 people.
Jafri said those arrested included 117 foreign women and 13 men of various nationalities, aged between 18 and 36 and one stateless man.
"We also arrested seven local men and three local women, aged between 35 and 44, who are believed to be the caretakers of the premises," he said in a press conference at the state Home Affairs Ministry Complex at Meru Raya here on Saturday (Jan 13).
"We also seized various items, including condoms, sex toys, documents, business records, keys, closed-circuit television camera (CCTV) equipment, mobile phones, passports and about RM14,155," he added.
Jafri said the modus operandi of the syndicate at the two prostitution dens was by promoting the foreign women by posting their photographs on Telegram and WhatsApp.
"Once selected, the customers will be brought to rooms provided.
"The fees charged to customers at the premises are between RM200 and RM500.
"As for outcall girls, the fee charged is between RM800 and RM1,000.
"Payment is by cash or online transaction before the women are delivered to the customers," he added.
At the other three entertainment premises, Jafri said the services there are targeted at regular customers who made reservations by phone calls.
"For room reservations, customers are charged between RM800 and RM10,000 depending on the room category while the women are charged RM150 for one hour.
"The syndicate has been operating for one year and has made a profit of about RM24,000 per month.
"During the raid, some customers tried to provoke our personnel by making noise and prevented the team from conducting a search, but their action was also thwarted," he added.
Jafri said the foreign nationals were arrested on suspicion of having committed an offence under the Immigration Act, the Passport Act and the Immigration Regulations.
"They were taken to the state Immigration Department headquarters at the Home Affairs Ministry Complex here for further action.
"The seven local men and three local women were arrested under Section 56 (11) of the Immigration Act.
"We have also notified 69 local men, two Bangladesh nationals and a local woman to come forward to assist investigations," he added.
