21 November 2020
Another three Immigration officers, including a senior officer with the rank of deputy director, have been arrested as probes widen into an international crime smuggling syndicate involving Immigration Department officers.
Sources close to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigation said the deputy director was stationed at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
“The three, aged between 38 and 54, were nabbed late yesterday afternoon when they were summoned to the Putrajaya MACC headquarters here to assist investigations into the case.
“So far, 53 people, including 33 Immigration officers, have been nabbed following a sting operation codenamed Ops Selat by the MACC, with the help of the Immigration Department since Monday.
The Immigration officers are based at the KLIA, klia2 and the Sultan Ismail building in Johor Baru,” he said today.
The source said all three Immigration officers, including the deputy director, had been taken to the Putrajaya magistrate’s court for remand under Section 117 of the Penal Code.
On Friday, MACC Investigations director Datuk Norazlan Mohd Razali had hinted that there would be more arrests in coming days.
“All those detained will be investigated under Section 16 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 and the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti- Terrorism Financing Act 2001,” he said.
Meanwhile, MACC had also applied for an extension of remand for 10 other suspects nabbed before this.
The graftbuster had also released two civilians on bail, for allegedly allowing their accounts to be used for the graft transactions.
It was reported recently that the MACC had busted a syndicate involving Immigration Department officers which caused a serious breach in the country’s borders.
Investigation thus far revealed that the syndicate involved an international crime smuggling syndicate from China, Vietnam, Indonesia and Bangladesh.
The counter setting process at the KLIA and klia2 was done by international syndicate who comprised agents in their respective countries.
So far, more than RM800,000 in cash had been seized along with 26 luxury vehicles and four high-powered motorcycles. Also seized were houses, land, jewellery and others.
What is shocking from MACC’s probe was that an Immigration personnel, with a KP 19 grade, was able to possess four luxury vehicles such as a Rolls Royce Phantom, a Mustang, a Range Rover and an Audi.
The vehicles were registered under the names of two Chinese nationals, believed to be agents operating in Malaysia and two local agents. MACC had identified them and was in the process of tracking them down.
One of the local agents helped to store the vehicles, and they were only used by the Immigration personnel as a repayment for handling the counter setting at klia2.
Related news: ‘Corrupt Immigration officers had semi-D homes, luxury cars’
Source: nst.com.my
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