GEORGE TOWN: Police nabbed 26 foreign women and three men in a raid at an entertainment centre at Midlands Park here today.
Northeast district police chief Mior Faridalathrash Wahid said the raid, called Operation Noda, was conducted by the Anti-Vice, Gambling and Secret Societies Division (D7) at about 1am.
"During the raid, which took place after several hours of spying, the women and a few customers were seen running out of the entertainment centre and trying to hide.
“The women, aged between 21 and 35, are from China (19) and Vietnam (7).
“They are in the country with a social visit visa and is believed to be guest relation officers (GRO) in the centre.
“The men, in their 30s, are locals who act as the women’s caretakers,” he said.
He said the case was being investigated under Section 39(b) and Section 6(3) of the Immigration Rules 1963 for misusing a social visit visa, which carried a maximum RM1,000 fine and jail not more than six months or both , if convicted.
“Investigation are also carried out under Section 55B(1) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 for protecting and employing illegal foreign workers without a valid visa, which carried a fine not less than RM10,000 and not exceeding RM50,000 or one year jail or both, if convicted,” he added.
Mior said the entertainment centre was raided a few times before, however the centre still continued to hire GROs.
“We will continue to enhance its monitoring and inspection across the entertainment centre in an effort to combat prostitution and immoral activities,” he added.