Nine foreign women nabbed in KK anti-vice raid

Some of the women (sitting on the floor) who were arrested in the raid.

KOTA KINABALU: Nine foreign women were arrested during a raid on a reflexology centre here which is believed to have been offering sexual services.

Officers and personnel from the state police headquarters’ anti-vice, gaming and secret societies division (D7) also detained a man believed to be the “manager” for the prostitution activities and a cashier at the centre on Thursday (July 13).

A man believed to be a customer was also nabbed during the 4pm operation at Jalan Coastal.

The police initially screened 20 workers comprising 19 foreign women and the 37-year-old manager.

After checking, they released 10 women as they had valid passports.

The remaining nine women, aged between 20 and 40, were however arrested as they had no travel documents, besides being suspected of involvement in vice activities.

Sabah CID chief Senior Asst Comm Azmi Abdul Rahim confirmed the arrests when contacted Saturday (July 15).

He said the nine women arrested originated from China, Thailand and the Philippines.

“They were suspected of prostitution as well as for abusing their passports by working at the massage parlour.

“All the detainees have been brought to the Kota Kinabalu police headquarters for further investigations,” he said, adding they were being probed under Section 372B of the Penal Code for prostitution and the Immigration laws.

Towards this end, SAC Azmi advised the public to notify the police if they knew of any premises involved in vice activities.