Johor cops nab 35 for violating NRP SOPs, compound notices totalling RM195,000 issued

JOHOR BARU: A total of 35 people, including nine women, were slapped with compound notices totalling RM195,000 for violating standard operating procedures (SOPs) under the National Recovery Plan (NRP) at an entertainment centre in Taman Kempas Utama, Kempas, here.

Johor Baru North OCPD Asst Comm Rupeah Abd Wahid said that all of the individuals, comprising 26 men and nine women, aged between 17 and 42 years old, were found to be in violation of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988.

"The suspects were arrested during a joint raid conducted by the Johor Baru North District Police and the Johor Police Contingent Secret Societies, Gambling and Vice Division (D7) at about 12.05am on Sunday (Oct 31).

"The act is an offence under Regulation 19 of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 where they have engaged in activities at an entertainment outlet during Phase Four of the NRP.

"All of the suspects, including the premises owner, were partying when police raided the outlet and investigations also revealed that the premises failed to produce an entertainment premise licence," she said in a statement Sunday.

She added that three individuals were also arrested for having links to a secret society group and one man was arrested for a wanted case.

"A total of 34 people were issued with RM5,000 compound notices each while the premises owner was issued a compound notice for RM25,000 under Regulation 17(1) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures Within the Infected Local Areas) Regulations 2021," she said.

The case is being investigated under Section 6(2) of the Entertainment and Places of Entertainment Enactment and under Section 42 of the Societies Act 1966.

Meanwhile, in an unrelated case, 21 individuals, aged between 22 and 51 years old, were arrested for involvement in prostitution activities at two hotels located in Gelang Patah, Iskandar Puteri, Johor.

Iskandar Puteri OCPD Asst Comm Dzulkhairi Mukhtar said that the suspects consist of 10 men and 11 women with three of them locals and the remaining 18 foreign nationals. He said they were arrested at the hotels at about 7pm on Saturday (Oct 30).

"We have also confiscated various items related to prostitution, including 16 mobile phones and cash worth RM6,649," he said.

The case is being investigated under Section 372B of the Penal Code for prostitution, Section 39B, and Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 for violating social visit passes and entering the country illegally.