Indonesian woman gets 12 months' jail for promoting prostitution on MiChat

In Ayer Keroh Sessions Court, a 32-year-old Indonesian woman named Nurlela was handed a 12-month jail sentence for her role in promoting prostitution through the MiChat social media platform last month. Judge Rohatul Akmar Abdullah imposed the sentence after Nurlela pleaded guilty to the charge. The sentence became effective from the date of her arrest on July 29.

Nurlela, who hails from Batam, Indonesia, had allegedly used an account named Wawa on MiChat to offer sexual services to members of the public for the purpose of exploitation. She carried out the offense in a hotel room on Jalan Tun Sri Lanang, Pengkalan Rama Tengah, around 8.35pm that same day. The Melaka police Criminal Investigation Department's D7 Branch carried out an operation, Op E-Noda, at the hotel following intelligence on prostitution activities via the MiChat app.

During the raid, Nurlela was apprehended in a hotel room, and her mobile phone was seized for further investigation. Forensic checks on her phone revealed that she had used the Wawa account to solicit sexual services for prices ranging from RM130 to RM250. The messages also included negotiations on meeting locations, cash payment methods, and the exchange of personal details.

Despite her initial request for a fine instead of imprisonment, citing her first-time offense and her role in supporting her mother back home, Deputy public prosecutor Nor Asnini Kamarudin argued for a deterrent sentence and highlighted the mandatory imprisonment under Section 372(1)(e) of the Penal Code. Nurlela was seen to cry following the court's decision.