KUALA LUMPUR: Thirteen foreign women working as guest relation officers (GROs) were among 19 detained following a raid on an entertainment outlet in Bukit Bintang.

       Customers paid up to RM2,080 for the five-hour services of the women and RM100 for each subsequent hour in karaoke rooms at the outlet, according to police.

       Bukit Aman CID anti-vice, gambling and secret societies division (D7) principal assistant director Senior Asst Comm Mohamad Noor Yusof Ali said the GROs detained during the operation at about 12.40am yesterday, were aged between 22 and 38.

       “Twelve of the foreign women are from a neighbouring country while another is from a Middle Eastern country.

       “We also detained six locals, including the outlet owner, manager and other workers,” he said when met at the scene yesterday.

       Checks were conducted on 34 workers as well as 89 customers; two of whom tested positive for methamphetamine, SAC Mohamad Noor said.

       “Initial investigations revealed that the outlet operated until 8am – way beyond the permitted time of midnight.

       “Regular customers use the back entrance after midnight in an attempt to evade the authorities.

       “The outlet also has other passages that lead to the parking lot to enable customers and the GROs to escape a raid.

       “However, we had scouted the premises and prevented that from happening,” he added.

       The outlet provides the services of GROs, who will only be brought to a karaoke room if a customer agreed on the price.

       “The services of the women are priced between RM1,280 and RM2,080 for the first five hours and RM100 per hour for subsequent hours,” he said.

       SAC Mohamad Noor said the outlet had 20 karaoke rooms priced between RM2,200 and RM8,000 depending on the size.

       “Those detained were brought to the Dang Wangi police headquarters for further investigation,” he added.