Filipino couple detained in raid on massage center in Malaysia

A Filipino couple was among the at least 51 people who were detained following a raid on a suspected illegal massage center in Malaysia's Malacca state Tuesday night.

The couple was in one of the houses near the massage center that Immigration Department operatives raided, Malaysia's The Star Online reported Thursday.

“The husband claimed that he was from Sabah and married his Filipino wife here and they had three daughters aged between one and three,” the report quoted Department deputy director for control Abu Bakar Sidek Hassan as saying.

Following the raid, Abu Bakar Sidek said he received abusive text messages questioning the raid and suggesting that they should have swooped down on the raided establishment's competitor.

Raiding team members picked up 14 Thai women believed to be masseuses, for allegedly misusing their social visit passes.

Also detained was a 40-year-old man believed to be the shopkeeper.

On the other hand, Abu Bakar Sidek said five children aged between one and nine were detained as well.

They were picked up along with the couple from the Philippines and an Indonesian woman from a house in Kampung Gelam in Tangga Batu.

Picked up as well from three houses in Taman Seri Pelangi in Kelemak, Alor Gajah, for overstaying were 13 men from Sri Lanka, six each from India and Pakistan, and another from Indonesia. —Joel Locsin/KBK, GMA News