Restaurant manager held in Labuan over employment of nine illegal foreign workers

A WOMAN was arrested in Labuan after police uncovered the alleged employment of nine Chinese nationals without valid work permits during a raid on a restaurant here on 5 February.

Labuan district police chief Superintendent Mohd Hamizi Halim said the operation was carried out by the Criminal Investigation Division of the Labuan District Police Headquarters.

The woman was identified as the manager of the premises, while seven men and two women from China were found working as wait staff and cooks.

“Inspections revealed that all the foreign workers, aged between 18 and 53, did not possess valid work permits and are believed to have been employed at the premises since July 2025.

“Police arrested all the individuals involved and seized several documents to assist in the investigation,” he said in a media statement today.

Mohd Hamizi said the case is being investigated under Section 55B of the Immigration Act 1959/63 and Regulation 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963.

“Applications for remand for all those arrested were made at the Magistrate’s Court of the Federal Territory of Labuan on 6 February and were granted until 9 February.

“Investigations are ongoing and the public is urged to channel any information related to criminal activities to the police,” he added. - February 7, 2026