Overview
- More than 200 patrons were detained in a Nov 28 joint operation at a Chow Kit wellness centre involving police, City Hall and the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department, with condoms and other items seized.
- A magistrate rejected late remand bids and 171 local nationals were released within 48 hours, with the police chief acknowledging investigators could not substantiate exploitation or coercion claims.
- Police said civil prosecutions are off the table, while 103 Muslim detainees remain under Syariah investigation for alleged offences under the Federal Territories act.
- A rights group said only one foreign national was held for overstaying a visa after others were freed, as authorities also moved to shut the venue’s operations.
- The Education Ministry removed teachers identified in the raid pending inquiries, and advocacy groups condemned the public exposure of detainees’ identities and warned of harms to LGBTQ health outreach.