Two local men believed to be their customers were also detained during the operation carried out by the Gambling, Vice and Secret Society Divisions of the Sabah Police Contingent and Kota Kinabalu city police headquarters.
State CID chief Salehhudin Abd Rahman told FMT the raid had been carried out in three rooms in a hotel at the Wawasan Plaza shopping mall following a public tip-off.
“The operation led by Insp Hasryman Osman seized flight tickets, RM2,240 in cash, several condoms and three mobile phones, among others,” he said.
“We believe the Russians, aged 18, 22 and 28, used WeChat to seek customers. This is the first case of alleged prostitution involving Russian women in the state this year.
“Investigations revealed the women entered Malaysia a few days ago on a social visit pass.”
In January, a 39-year-old Russian woman was sentenced to one month’s jail and fined RM6,000 for prostitution.
The single mother of three committed the offence on Dec 8 last year at a hotel in Jalan Lintas, here.
During mitigation, the woman’s counsel asked for a lenient sentence on grounds that the accused had been lured by a local into committing the act.