Two married couples were arrested yesterday to assist investigations into a viral video showing three domestic helpers being allegedly assaulted in Taman Johor, near Tampoi.
Viral abuse case in Johor Bahru
Johor police chief Datuk Ab Rahaman Arsad said the suspects, aged between 30 and 34, were detained around 7.30pm at a house in the residential area by officers from the Johor Criminal Investigation Department and the Johor Bahru Utara district police headquarters.
He said early investigations found that the two couples were living under the same roof, and that the female suspects are siblings.
Police believe the incident involved three foreign domestic helpers in their 20s and may have occurred on July 26 last year. The video, which was reportedly recorded by one of the victims, only surfaced on social media recently, though the reason behind the alleged assault is still being investigated.
“The video was recorded by one of the victims but only surfaced on social media yesterday. However, the motive behind the incident remains under investigation,” Ab Rahaman told reporters at the Iskandar Puteri police headquarters.
Domestic helper abuse, suspects remanded in Johor
He added that the three domestic helpers are believed to have fled and are still in Malaysia.
During the arrest, police also seized several items, including mobile phones, clothing belonging to the suspects, a CCTV camera, and two passports belonging to the domestic helpers.
All four suspects tested negative for drugs and have no prior criminal record. They have been remanded for four days starting today.
The case is being investigated under several laws, including Section 323 of the Penal Code (voluntarily causing hurt), Section 506 (criminal intimidation), Section 354 (assault with intent to outrage modesty), Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act, and Section 12(1)(f) of the Passports Act.
Footage circulating online shows individuals allegedly assaulting a female domestic helper who was seated on a sofa inside a home.
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