Woman Horrified After Finding CCTV Camera While Undressing in Johor Massage Parlour
"I'm not sure how many customers have been recorded secretly before me... [and] if customers are still being recorded," the woman said.
A Singaporean woman was horrified when she spotted a CCTV camera recording her while she was changing in the private room of a massage parlour at KSL City Mall, Johor Bahru
The woman told Stomp that she was at the mall with her husband and father-in-law on 16 June 2022, when they decided to get a massage at a newly opened wellness spa.
After the trio opted for a foot and oil body massage session, staff brought them to separate private rooms to undress and prepare for the massage.
"I took off my clothes and when I wanted to hang the clothes on the hanger provided, I noticed a red light flashing in the corner of the room," she said.
That's when she allegedly spotted a strategically placed closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera nestled in the top corner of the room
"The camera was hung next to the curtain, hence making it less visible," she said. "Customers entering the room will not be able to see it unless they flip the curtain."
The woman immediately screamed for her husband and informed him about the camera, before hurriedly putting her clothes back on.
Her husband then called over the massage parlour's management and demanded an explanation, but they provided conflicting statements.
"First, they claimed they were not aware of the presence of the CCTV. Then, they claimed the CCTV was not functioning," the woman said.
"How did they know the CCTV was not working if they were not aware there was a CCTV in the first place? And if the camera was not functioning, why was there a flashing red light?"
The woman and her husband recalled seeing a CCTV monitor at the cashier and rushed there to see if the cameras were actively recording
"There was indeed CCTV footage in the room. CCTV footage showed all movement in the massage rooms," she said.
The woman claimed that the management team promised they would delete the footage and pleaded with the couple not to bring the incident to the authorities.
"The management team kept on insisting they will delete the footage. Hence, I need not worry about the video being circulated," she said. Nevertheless, the couple ignored their request and phoned the police.
After a sweep of the premises, authorities advised the woman to file a report at the Larkin police station.
However, the manager of the massage parlour beat them to the station
The woman said she spoke to Investigation Officer Suhana, who informed her that the manager had already handed over the hard disk. The management team also deleted the footage.
"I told Suhana I want this case to be investigated as I was not sure if the hard disk given to the police was the actual hard disk or if there were any copies of the footage."
Nearly a year later, the results of the case remain inconclusive.
"I've been trying to contact the IO to ask [about] the status of their investigation, but I just couldn't get through to her," the woman said.
"I’m not sure how many customers have been recorded secretly before me. I am not sure if the massage parlour has taken down the camera. I am not sure if customers are still being recorded secretly. This is not right."