Three Vietnamese women were fined a total of RM3,000 after pleading guilty at the Magistrate’s Court here today for offences involving prostitution activities and violating the conditions of their temporary social visit passes.
The accused, Pham Thi Thao Van, 22, faced two charges, while Dang Thi Dien, 22, and Chao Thi Van, 22, were each charged with one offence. All three pleaded guilty before Magistrate Mustaqim Sukarno.
Pham Thi was fined RM2,000, while Dang Thi and Chao Thi were each ordered to pay RM500.
They faced additional imprisonment of one and four months respectively if they failed to settle the fines. All three accused have since paid the penalties.
According to the charge, Pham Thi was accused of soliciting prostitution at a hotel along Jalan Bakau Chondong at about 2pm on July 15.
She was charged under Section 372B of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum imprisonment term of one year, a fine, or both upon conviction.
The three women were also charged under Section 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963 for breaching the conditions of their social visit passes by allegedly engaging in prostitution activities at the same location and time.
The offence carries a maximum fine of RM1,000, imprisonment of up to six months, or both upon conviction.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nur Shazleen Ibrahim handled the prosecution, while the three accused were represented by lawyer Tan Song Yan.
Based on the case facts, police from the Criminal Investigation Department of the Batu Pahat District Police Headquarters raided a hotel believed to be used for prostitution activities.
During the operation, authorities found that the women were allegedly involved in the activity while using social visit passes.
