42 ‘flower girls’ nabbed in anti-vice raid in Johor

ISKANDAR PUTERI: A total of 44 foreign individuals were arrested by the Immigration Department during a raid on an entertainment centre here.

Johor Immigration director Baharuddin Tahir said the raid, dubbed Ops Gegar, was conducted at 12.10am on March 15 based on a public tip-off.

“We were informed that there have been cases of foreign individuals staying and working here without permits and passes, besides conducting immoral activities.

“The arrest includes 42 foreign women who work as ‘flower girls’ at the premises. Investigation revealed that each of them is paid between RM50 and RM500 for their service,” he said in a statement here on Monday (March 18).

The inspection also revealed that they have violated their social visit pass (PLS) and temporary employment visit pass (PLKS), he added.

“We have also arrested two men from China and Bangladesh. All those arrested are between the ages of 25 and 45,” he said.

The case is being investigated under Section 15(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/1963 for overstaying and Rule 11(7)(a) of the Immigration Regulations 1963 for violating PLS.

Meanwhile, in an unrelated case, a total of 63 foreign individuals were arrested for working without permits during a series of raids, says Baharuddin.

“The raid was conducted from March 13 until March 17, during which we raided 26 premises around Johor Baru.

“The arrests consist of 21 men from Bangladesh, eight men from India, eight men from Nepal, six men from Pakistan, two men from Indonesia, five women from Indonesia, and one woman from the Philippines.

“Also arrested were four men, four women, two boys, and a girl, all from Myanmar,” he said, adding that those detained were aged between 3 and 61.

The case is being investigated under Section 6(1)(c) and Section 15(1)(c) of the Immigration Act of 1959/63 for entering the country without valid travel documents and overstaying.

It is also investigated under Section 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963 for violating the requirement of their visit pass.