Two Married Couples Arrested After Viral Video Allegedly Shows Indonesian Domestic Workers Being Abused
ISKANDAR PUTERI: Police have arrested two married couples after a viral social media video allegedly showed them physically abusing an Indonesian domestic worker in an incident believed to have taken place last year.
The four suspects, all Malaysians aged between 30 and 34, were detained at a house in Taman Johor, Skudai at around 7.30pm yesterday following an investigation launched after the video spread widely online.
Johor police chief Datuk Ab. Rahaman Arsad said authorities acted swiftly upon receiving information regarding the footage, which triggered outrage among social media users and renewed concerns over the treatment of domestic workers.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the incident is believed to have occurred on July 26 last year but only recently surfaced after one of the victims allegedly recorded the abuse secretly.
“The video is believed to have been recorded discreetly by one of the victims and was only circulated recently.
“Our initial investigations indicate that three Indonesian domestic workers were involved in the incident,” he told reporters at the Iskandar Puteri district police headquarters today.
Ab. Rahaman said police believe all three victims are still in Malaysia and efforts are currently underway to locate them to assist with the investigation.
He stressed that the case is being treated seriously due to allegations of physical abuse, intimidation and possible violations of several laws.
The four suspects have been remanded for one day to facilitate investigations.
Police are investigating the case under Section 323 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt, Section 506 of the Penal Code for criminal intimidation and Section 354 of the Penal Code.
Investigations are also being carried out under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act and Section 12(1)(f) of the Passport Act.
During the arrest operation, police seized several items believed to be linked to the case.
The items included mobile phones belonging to the suspects, clothing allegedly worn during the incident, closed-circuit television (CCTV) recordings and two Indonesian passports believed to belong to two of the victims.
Ab. Rahaman said background checks showed that none of the suspects had prior criminal records.
In addition, urine tests conducted on the suspects returned negative results for drug abuse.
Investigators are currently examining all evidence collected, including the viral footage and CCTV recordings, to establish the full sequence of events and determine whether additional offences may have been committed.
“Our priority now is to locate the victims and record their statements as soon as possible.
“We also want to ensure their safety and welfare throughout the investigation process,” he said.
The viral video sparked widespread condemnation online, with many Malaysians urging authorities to take stern action against those responsible if the allegations are proven.
Several social media users expressed concern over the welfare of migrant domestic workers, calling for stronger protections and stricter enforcement against abuse.
Human rights advocates have long argued that domestic workers, particularly migrant workers, remain vulnerable to exploitation and abuse due to their dependence on employers and limited access to support systems.
Ab. Rahaman reiterated that police would not compromise when dealing with cases involving violence or mistreatment.
He urged the public to refrain from making speculative statements that could interfere with ongoing investigations and to allow authorities to complete their work professionally.
The case remains under active investigation, and police have not ruled out the possibility of additional charges should further evidence emerge.
