TAIPING, Malaysia - Three Vietnamese women, initially hired as singers at a karaoke lounge here, lodged police reports alleging they were forced to perform sexual acts besides just singing.

The trio, in their early 20s, stopped a police patrol car not far from where they lived in Pokok Assam last Sunday and pleaded to the policemen to help them.

OCPD Asst Comm Yusuf Mohd Diah said the women were brought to the police station where they lodged a report with the help of an interpreter.

"They said they felt cheated as they were hired as singers but were later forced to follow their employers' clients after work and perform sexual favours at odd hours," he said.

ACP Yusuf said the girls who arrived on social visit passes here on March 21, paid about RM1,800 (S$772) to the agent in their village for the trip here.

He said they were housed in Pokok Assam by two men in their 20s who picked them up as soon as they arrived at KLIA.

He said police knew the identity of one of them and were on the lookout for him.

"The case is being investigated under Section 12 of the Anti Human Trafficking Act 2007 where an offender is liable to be jailed up to 15 years and fined up to RM100,000 (S$42,900) if found guilty.

"We have also obtained a two-week court order to have the girls placed under custody at a safe home in Kuala Lumpur," he added.