Police have dismantled a private prostitution operation using hotel rooms and condominium units as makeshift brothels during a series of raids across Selangor on Saturday.
The operation, carried out by the D7 Anti-Vice, Gambling and Secret Societies Division of the Selangor Criminal Investigation Department (CID), targeted several locations in Cyberjaya, Damansara and Puchong following intelligence gathering and public information.
During the raids, which began at about 7pm, officers arrested eight foreign women comprising three Thai nationals and five Indonesians believed to be offering sexual services independently.
A local man in his 30s, suspected of acting as a transporter by sending the women to meet customers, was also detained during the operation.
One Indonesian woman in her 30s claimed she had been providing sexual services for several months after renting one of the units. She alleged that she came to Malaysia during her university semester break and turned to prostitution to earn extra money to support her education expenses.
Investigations revealed that the women allegedly sourced customers through WeChat and WhatsApp, charging between RM150 and RM540 per hour for sexual services.
Police also believe some of the women entered Malaysia using social visit passes before overstaying their permitted period in the country.
According to investigators, customers would meet the women at the lobby before being taken to rented hotel or condominium units where the services were allegedly provided. The suspects are also believed to have advertised their services through social media by sharing photographs and locations, with payments made after each encounter.
During the raids, police seized several items believed to be linked to the activities, including mobile phones, condoms, towels, access cards and cash.
All suspects were taken to the Petaling Jaya, Sepang and Serdang district police headquarters for further investigation.
The case is being investigated under Section 372B of the Penal Code, Section 55E of the Immigration Act 1959/63, Regulation 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963 and Section 15(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.
