Prostitution has apparently adopted the fast food mentality. One syndicate in particular offered 15 minutes of sexual service for only RM50.
The syndicate was renting out an unused hotel on Jalan Tun Ali, Melaka for RM1,500 a month. They have been using the hotel for immoral activities for a few years now. However, the state’s Immigration Department (JIM) shut down the operation earlier this week.
Mohd Sharulnizam Ismail, the Chief of Authority of JIM Melaka stated that in the Ops Gegar raid, nine foreign women with ages ranging from 26 to 35 were taken into custody. These women were from Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and Bangladesh. They also arrested the guard of the premise, a 50-year-old local man and a Bangladeshi customer.
The business has been operating for several years, starting as early as 10am until 4pm. Although the Movement Control Order (MCO) was in effect, they continued to cater to their customers, even offering discounts to their foreign and local clients. Each women received a RM30 salary per customer while the rest went to the guard.
During the raid, the women tried to escape but were successfully detained by the authorities. “A few tried to trick the authorities by saying they were local women from Sabah,” Deputy Immigration Director of JIM Melaka, K. Vishnutharan Kalimuthu said. “But after extensive research, it was found that they were from Indonesia.”
During the raid, several condoms, walkie-talkie radio sets, workbooks, branded mobile phones and cash amounting to RM1,040 were confiscated. The women were arrested under the Immigration Act 1959/63 (Act 155) and will be sent to the immigration detention centre after being screened for Covid-19 at the District Health Centre.
Sources: China Press, Harian Metro, Facebook
