The 23-year-old man told police that he did not have sex with her upon realising who she was, The Star reported. However, it is unclear why he did not immediately recognise her.

The daily said the man was arrested at 9.30pm on Oct 9, while the girl’s mother, 30, was arrested at 2.15pm the day before.

The owner of a karaoke joint who is said to have collaborated with the mother to sell the girl’s services has also been arrested.

According to the report, the mother purportedly sold her daughter into prostitution in order to pay off her debts.

The matter emerged when the village headman learned of the girl’s situation and took her to lodge a police report.

The girl told police that a man had paid the owner of the karaoke joint RM1,000 before raping her three times in a hotel, the report said.

The mother and the owner of the karaoke joint are being held at the Lawas police lockup. Police have also obtained a seven-day remand order for the man.