PUTRAJAYA, Sept 18 — The Immigration Department (JIM) detained 52 foreign workers after inspecting 115 individuals in a special operation at three massage and reflexology centres around Johor Bahru yesterday.
Its director-general, Datuk Zakaria Shaaban, said those detained comprised nine foreign men – one from Indonesia, Myanmar (five), Bangladesh (two) and China (one) – and 43 foreign women – Thailand (32), China (eight) and one each from Myanmar, Vietnam and Laos.
He added that those detained, aged between 19 and 59, are believed to have worked as masseurs without any valid documents.
“During the raid, we also detained three Malaysian men believed to be the caretakers of the premises,” he said in a statement today.
Zakaria said the operation, which began at 6 pm, involved 47 enforcement personnel from Putrajaya and Johor and was led by Immigration Enforcement Division director Basri Othman.
He added that the integrated operation was carried out following tip-offs and intelligence gathered.
“Upon further inspection, one of the premises was found to have not only offered massage and reflexology services, but also provided sauna rooms for its clients,” he said.
Zakaria said the charges are between RM92 and RM180, depending on the package, while the sauna room package is priced at up to RM300.
He added that all the individuals were detained on suspicion of committing offences under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and the Immigration Regulations 1963.
They have all been placed at the Setia Tropika Immigration Depot, while 15 Immigration Form 29 (Witness Summons) were also issued during the operation, he said. — Bernama
