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PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) arrested an immigration officer for allegedly receiving bribes in exchange for the release of detainees, FMT has learned.
A well-placed source said that Selangor MACC arrested the officer for allegedly asking for a bribe of RM22,000 to free two Chinese nationals who were arrested last month for using fake stamps to enter and leave the country.
The 26-year-old officer, who is in the operations division of the KLIA, was arrested yesterday at 7:45 p.m. after he was said to have received the bribe at a gas station near the airport.
The source said this case is unrelated to the Ops Selat sting operation, which has seen 39 immigration officers detained, adding that this officer worked alone and had allegedly done so frequently.
“Corruption at KLIA has become a pandemic and it is concerning. This is a national security issue. Corrupt agents on duty facilitate the entry and exit of problematic undocumented immigrants, ”said the source.
“It is no longer necessary to traverse illegal routes or face rough seas to enter Malaysia. It is better to enter through KLIA or klia2. It’s easier, faster and safer. “
The source said the officer was captured after the arrest of a 40-year-old “agent”, who was found with the money, yesterday at noon.
After questioning, the “agent” revealed that the money was for a KLIA immigration officer, the source said.
“Their modus operandi is that immigration officers will give these agents the details of any Chinese nationals detained for immigration offenses at KLIA. The agent’s job is to contact their families in China to ask for bribes to release the detainees.
“Families in China will then call their friends in Malaysia to help prepare the money and deliver it to the agent,” the source added.
Selangor MACC director Alias Salim confirmed the arrest and said the case is being investigated under Section 16 of the MACC Act.
