A POLICE investigation into the alleged abuse of an Indonesian domestic worker has widened after the arrest of two married couples and the emergence of evidence suggesting other foreign maids linked to the suspects may also have been mistreated.
The case came to light after four videos circulated on social media, showing a woman believed to be a domestic worker being assaulted and verbally abused by multiple individuals inside a residence in Taman Johor, Johor Bahru.
Johor Police Chief Datuk Ab Rahaman Arsad said the four suspects, aged between 30 and 34, were detained at approximately 7.30pm on Saturday during an operation conducted by the Johor Contingent Police Headquarters Criminal Investigation Department together with the Johor Bahru North District Police Headquarters.
According to investigators, the incident captured in the viral footage is believed to have occurred on 26 July last year at the family residence.
“Initial investigations found that the incident recorded in the viral video is believed to have taken place on 26 July last year at a house in Taman Johor.
“The two female suspects are sisters, and both married couples were living together at the residence.
“The items seized from the suspects included mobile phones, clothing belonging to the suspects, a closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera and two passports belonging to foreign women believed to be domestic workers employed by one of the suspect couples,” he said during a press conference at the Iskandar Puteri District Police Headquarters on Sunday.
The seizure of passports and CCTV equipment is expected to form a key part of the investigation as authorities seek to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged abuse and determine whether additional victims were involved.
Ab Rahaman said checks conducted by police revealed that none of the suspects had previous criminal records, while preliminary urine screening tests returned negative results.
Attention has now shifted towards locating the alleged victim, who police believe has fled following the incident.
“The victim, who is an Indonesian domestic worker, is believed to have run away and police are actively tracing her.
“In addition, two other women who were domestic workers employed by the suspects are also believed to have been victims of abuse and have been identified to assist in the investigation.
“All of them are in their twenties and remain in the country,” he said.
The two married couples were remanded for one day by the Johor Bahru Magistrates’ Court to facilitate further investigations.
“Investigations are being conducted under Section 323, Section 506 and Section 354 of the Penal Code, Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act, and Section 12(1)(f) of the Passport Act,” he added.
The videos that triggered the investigation generated widespread public condemnation after appearing online.
In the footage, a man believed to be the victim’s employer was allegedly seen slapping and punching the woman, while three other individuals appeared to berate and verbally abuse her.
It is understood that the woman was allegedly assaulted after being accused of injuring her employer’s young child.
However, police said the actual motive behind the incident remains under investigation and has yet to be conclusively established. - June 14, 2026
