KUALA LUMPUR: A 39-year-old woman from India who was beaten, locked in a hotel room and forced into prostitution was rescued during a police raid in the city centre.
She had arrived in Malaysia on July 11 after being promised work as a domestic helper, only to be held captive and exploited.
Acting Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Mohamed Usuf Jan Mohamad said the victim was taken to a hotel in Jalan Ampang upon arrival and locked in a room by a 41-year-old man.
“She was assaulted and forced to work as a prostitute. The suspect, who admitted to managing the vice operation, was arrested during the raid,” he said in a statement.
Usuf added that the woman was offered between RM50 and RM80 per customer, with the man profiting from the illegal activity.
The raid, carried out under Op Noda by the Dang Wangi district Criminal Investigation Division and the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters’ Criminal Investigation Department, took place at 8.30pm yesterday.
Police arrested 12 Indian nationals — seven men and five women aged between 21 and 43 — including sex workers, touts, counter staff and customers.
“The syndicate operated through street-level solicitation, targeting foreign men from Bangladesh, Nepal and India,” said Mohamed Usuf.
Usuf added that police also seized condoms, a customer logbook, tissue paper and RM267 in cash.
The case is being investigated under Section 373 and Section 372B of the Penal Code, Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, and Section 12 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (ATIPSOM).
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