KUALA LUMPUR: Police yesterday detained 27 female guest relation officers (GRO) following a raid at a food court suspected of providing immoral services in Jalan Pasar Baru, here.
Various tricks were used by the foreign women involved, including hiding in wardrobes and under sinks to avoid being detained.
A secret door was also found in the women's restroom, believed to be used as an escape route if the premises was raided.
It is understood that the establishment, located a few hundred metres from an abandoned hotel that has become a prostitution den, had only begun operating yesterday before being raided by the City Police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Strike Force.
To avoid detection by authorities, the owner of the premises closed the front door, allowing only known patrons to enter through a back door to access the services of Chinese and Vietnamese GROs.
When questioned, the foreign women claimed they were merely at the premises to eat and drink alcohol, denying any involvement in any illegal activity there.
Most of the women who were approached during the raid claimed they were not proficient in English. They gave various excuses for being at the food court.
City police chief Datuk Rusdi Mohd Isa said the 5.40pm raid was conducted by the City Police CID Anti-Vice, Gambling and Secret Societies Division (D7) together with the D7 unit from the Dang Wangi district police headquarters.
"The raid was carried out on an unlicensed entertainment centre employing foreign workers as GROs, many of whom lacked identification documents or work permits.
"Initial investigations found that the premises had just started operating today (yesterday) and had attempted to mislead the authorities by keeping the front door closed, allowing entry only through the back door," he said in a statement.
He said the GROs were tipped by customers using folding fans, with values ranging from RM100 to RM150 based on the fan's colour.
Customers could also tip the GROs in lower denominations of RM10 to RM50 using sashes of different colours.
Rusdi said 29 people were detained, including 16 Chinese women, 11 Vietnamese women suspected of being GROs, an Indonesian male worker, and a local man believed to be the caretaker, all aged between 24 and 67.
Fifty three Malaysians, comprising 47 men and six women aged 34 to 44, were also screened during the operation.
"Among the items seized during the raid were a music mixer, speakers, DVD player, microphones, business receipts, sashes, and fans.
"Investigations are being conducted under Section 4(1) of the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur Entertainment Act 1992, as well as Section 55B, Section 39(b), and Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63," he said.