KULAI — A Form Four student and her partner were among three unmarried couples detained for suspected khalwat (close proximity) during an overnight operation targeting several hotels here.

The Johor Islamic Religious Department (JAINJ) said the underage student, who attends a school outside the district, was found in a room with a man in his 20s during the raid, which ran from 10pm to 3am, Berita Harian reported.

Officials described the discovery as shocking, noting that the man, who works at a factory, appeared startled when he opened the hotel room door to find five JAINJ enforcement officers outside.

Upon entering, officers found the girl inside the room. Her parents were later called to the JAINJ office to post bail as part of the investigation process.

In the same operation, officers also detained two other couples in separate rooms.

One pair comprised an Indonesian man in his 30s and an Indonesian woman, who work as a security guard and a canteen worker, respectively. 

The other couple involved a Myanmar national, also a security guard, and an Indonesian woman employed at a factory in Senai.