Mayor Mike Moncrief (MAHN’-creef) made an impromptu apology during Tuesday night’s meeting where officials and residents commented on last month’s raid on the Rainbow Lounge, which left one man hospitalized with a serious head injury.

Moncrief had told the crowd: “If you want an apology from your mayor: I am sorry about what happened in Fort Worth.”

City spokesman Bill Begley (BAY’-glee) said Wednesday the mayor and council always are sorry if someone is hurt in the city.

The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission and Fort Worth Police Department are investigating the raid, which was conducted jointly by their agencies.

Police said the clubs were operating behind legitimate businesses and were uncovered during a routine vice blitz in a seedy part of town. The city is popular with foreign tourists.

Vice officers said one of the clubs was operating in a traditional massage parlor; three others were “disguised” as fitness clubs.

Police said that in several of the early morning raids, they found men engaged in sex. In others they found “evidence sex had occurred.” They said that officers found gay pornography, condoms and sex toys in four of the locations.

Those arrested were booked and released on bail after being given court dates. They are charged with gross indecency and if convicted would be subject to floggings and up to 20 years in prison.

Those charged are between the ages of 20 and 50, police said.

Last year, police in the capital Kuala Lumpur charged 37 men with gross indecency after a raid on what was described as a gay sex club. They were sentenced to be lashed and then freed.

Malaysia’s anti-sodomy law dates back to British colonial times.  The country’s Muslim majority has steadfastly refused to repeal the law.