Police thwarts international prostitution syndicate in Bayan Baru

BALIK PULAU: Police here have arrested 11 people, including six women, for allegedly participating in an international online prostitution syndicate.

Balik Pulau OCPD Supt Kamarul Rizal Jenal said the suspects, aged 21 to 65, were arrested on Friday (Oct 20) at a commercial premise in Bayan Baru

Supt Kamarul said the arrest was made after a tip-off received by the police about the syndicate’s operation.

“A team of police from district and state Criminal Investigation Department (CID) conducted an operation and arrested the suspects at about 5.30pm,” he said during a press conference on Sunday (Oct 22).

Supt Kamarul said the investigation found that the business premise acts as the calling centre for the syndicate to receive bookings from potential customers.

“We believe that the syndicate also acts as a middleman for their customers by using websites to promote and advertise prostitution activities in Australia.

“Potential clients who want to procure sex services will call the syndicate who used an Australian SIM card number,” he said, adding the syndicate has been active since December 2021.

He said customers who have agreed with the services will make payment straight to the prostitute, and the syndicate will get a commission from their counterpart in Australia.

Supt Kamarul said the 33-year-old mastermind who runs the calling centre and his 65-year-old mother were detained.

He said further investigation found that the suspects arrested worked 24 hours in two shifts and were paid between RM3000-RM8000 as operators.

He said two of the suspects arrested have a record of two crimes.

“We also believe that the syndicate garnered RM30,000 a day from their operation,” he said.

During the raid, police confiscated 11 monitors, 12 computer mice,11 keyboards, eight desktops, a laptop,161 handphones,17 tablets, four modems, a wireless router, a CCTV decoder, 11 chairs and a car.

He said the suspects were remanded for six days from Oct 21 to Oct 26.

The case is being investigated under Section 372 (1)(e) and 372 (1)(f) of the Penal Code for prostitution.