Cops detain 11 foreign women in Labuan anti-vice op

Police checking the nightspot in Labuan.

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah and Labuan police have detained 11 foreign women, all Filipinas, in an anti-vice operation in Labuan.

Personnel from the Sabah Anti-Vice, Gambling and Secret Societies Division (D7) and Labuan Criminal Investigation Department (CID) made the arrests after raiding a nightspot and living quarters at a commercial centre on the island at 10.30pm on Monday (May 20).

Sabah CID chief Senior Asst Comm Azmi Abd Rahim said they first stormed the nightspot, where they checked the outlet’s male caretaker and a Filipina who said she worked as a waitress there.

“We found that her visa was dubious and after questioning, she revealed that 10 other Filipinas were working there but that they were at the living quarters at the time,” he said when contacted on Wednesday (May 22).

"Our men then raided the quarters and found that all 10 women had questionable visas,” he added.

He said the 11 women, aged between 20 and 30, as well as the caretaker were subsequently detained and had their passports seized.

SAC Azmi said those detained were being investigated for various immigration offences under the Immigration Regulations 1963 as well as Section 372B of the Penal Code for solicitation.

He warned foreigners not to abuse their social visit passes to work or get involved in immoral activities in the country.