Cops probe rape claims in Malaysia

Malaysian police are i nvestigating reports that a Thai woman was raped by an immigration officer in Malacca.

The New Straits Times online on March 22 reported that a Thai masseuse said she was raped by an immigration officer at the Machap Umboo Immigration Depot in Alor Gajah, Malacca on March 7, after police raided a massage shop.

The media quoted a 28-yearold sister of the 32-year-old alleged victim. Malacca deputy police chief Ruslan Hasan said police picked up a 31-year-old Malaysian suspect at the immigration office at 5.30pm on Friday, Malaysian news agency Bernama reported.

“Officials from the Thai embassy in Kuala Lumpur visited the woman on March 23,” Thai Ministry for Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Busadee Santipitaks said yesterday.

The alleged victim and three other Thai women have been moved to a shelter for women in Jorhor, as the Malaysian court ordered their protection as victims of human trafficking, Ms Busadee said.

Justice procedures are proceeding under Malaysian laws and authorities have been helpful, she said. Malaysian and Singaporean media earlier ran stories saying a Thai woman alleged she was raped by the immigration officer during a closeddoor questioning.

Meanwhile, Bernama on Saturday said the immigration officer was being held over the alleged rape.

“Police arrested an immigration officer at his office here on Friday in connection with the case where a Thai woman claimed she was raped earlier this month,” it said.

Malacca deputy police chief Ruslan Hasan said police picked up the 31-year-old suspect at the Malacca Immigration Office.

Ms Busadee refused to comment further on the report she received from the embassy in Kuala Lumpur. Contacted by the Post, Ms Busadee said the woman had told them she was not in fact attacked.