Malaysia frees 105 foreign maids held against will by employment agency

KUALA LUMPUR (AP) - Malaysian authorities say 105 mainly Indonesian women were held against their will and forced to work without pay by a housemaid employment agency.

An immigration department official in central Selangor state says the women were transported to homes to perform cleaning services during the day and locked in a four-story building at night.

The official said on Monday that the women were promised monthly wages before entering Malaysia but received nothing for up to six months. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he did not have clearance to make public statements.

Authorities detained 12 agency supervisors while raiding the building following a tip on Saturday.