By Aida Aziz
Photo JIM Perak
IPOH: A total of 12 Vietnamese female GROs were among 33 illegal immigrants arrested while they were engrossed in serving customers at an entertainment center here.
They were apprehended during a raid conducted by the Perak State Immigration Department (JIM) at three premises, including an entertainment center, a restaurant, and a business, as part of Ops Gegar, Ops Selera, and Ops Minyak.
According to the Director of the Perak State Immigration Department, Meor Hezbullah Meor Abd Malik, the operation was carried out by the Ipoh Immigration Enforcement Division on Wednesday at 7:00 PM and concluded at 12:20 AM on Thursday.
When the raid was conducted at the entertainment venue, all the Vietnamese GROs were unaware of the presence of JIM and failed to escape.
“Four Myanmar men working as bartenders at the premises were also arrested,” he said on Thursday.
He added that JIM also detained 12 restaurant workers and five car wash employees at two separate locations.
Additionally, he said that seven forms, which are summonses to Witnesses, were issued to employers during the inspection period.
“The raid was carried out based on complaints and intelligence gathered by the JIM Perak Intelligence and Operations Unit at the premises.
“With a team of 15 immigration officers, inspections were conducted on 62 individuals present at the premises.
“A total of 33 foreign nationals, consisting of 12 Vietnamese women, seven Myanmar men, six Indian men, four Bangladeshi men, two Sri Lanka men and one woman, and one Nepalese man, aged between 17 and 40, were arrested for suspected violations under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and the Immigration Regulations 1963,” he added.
He stated that all those arrested were detained at the Ipoh Immigration Depot for further investigation and legal action under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.
Which pertains to entering and remaining in Malaysia without a valid pass, Section 15(1)(c) of the same act for overstaying after the expiration of a valid pass, and under Regulation 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963 for violating the conditions of the issued pass.
