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20 held in illegal KTV lounge raid catering only to Myanmar nationals

20 held in illegal KTV lounge raid catering only to Myanmar nationals

KUALA LUMPUR: A KTV-style entertainment outlet operating illegally in Bandar Manjalara was found offering two private karaoke rooms exclusively for Myanmar nationals.
The outlet also provided guest relation officer (GRO) services to foreign patrons.
The operation was uncovered during Op Noda, a raid conducted by the Kuala Lumpur police Anti-Vice, Gambling and Secret Societies Division (D7) at 12.10am.
Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Rusdi Mohd Isa said 20 Myanmar nationals, aged between 18 and 39, were arrested during the raid.
"They included seven women suspected of working as GROs, a caretaker, another employee, and 11 male customers," he said in a statement today.
Police also seized audio equipment, a decoder, tablets, alcoholic beverages, sales receipt books, and cash.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the outlet had no business licence and was employing undocumented foreign workers.
Rusdi said the outlet operated as a KTV karaoke lounge and catered exclusively to Myanmar nationals.
"Some of the foreign detainees were found to have overstayed their social visit passes or were without valid identification documents," he added.
The case is being investigated under the Immigration Act 1959/63, Section 76 of the Excise Act 1976, and Section 4(1) of the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur Entertainment Act 1992.
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