Malaysian police have detained at least 51 men in a series of raids on Sunday linked to what authorities described as a drug-fueled 'gay party' at a Kuala Lumpur hotel. The arrests come after a man connected to the event was found dead.
Details of the Raids
Narcotics department director Hussein Omar Khan announced late Monday that the men, aged between 21 and 52, including 28 foreigners, were arrested in four separate raids. Police seized illicit drugs such as MDMA, ecstasy pills and powder, and ketamine.
'This group was found to be using rooms in upscale hotels for entertainment and drug abuse and it was believed to be involved in immoral activities,' Khan stated. The case is being investigated under the Dangerous Drugs Act.
Discovery of the Deceased
Prior to the raids, a man suspected of attending the party was found unconscious in the hotel lobby. He was rushed to Kuala Lumpur Hospital but was pronounced dead upon arrival. Khan did not disclose the cause of death.
Those detained have been remanded in custody for three to six days as investigations continue. Thirty-six of the men tested positive for drugs.
LGBT Rights Concerns
Rights groups warn that LGBT individuals in Malaysia face increasing scrutiny and intolerance. Homosexuality is criminalized in the Muslim-majority nation, which operates a dual-track legal system with Islamic laws for Muslims alongside a civil code. Sodomy is a crime, and sharia laws ban same-sex acts and cross-dressing.
Last year, Kuala Lumpur police reviewed procedures after 171 people detained on suspicion of same-sex activities were released without charge due to lack of evidence. LGBT advocacy groups accused police of unlawfully holding some detainees for nearly two days even after a court ordered their release.
