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PUTRAJAYA: One of the 12 agents who were handling the foreign workers captured in the immigration “sealing facilities” union is a man wanted by the police, sources say.
The sources said the individual caught during the sting operation codenamed “Ops Selat” is believed to be involved in prostitution activities involving Chinese nationals.
The suspect is also believed to be linked to three cases of car theft and conspiracy in syndicated crimes.
“He is the agent who got the four luxury cars owned by low-ranking immigration personnel,” said sources close to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
The sources also said that MACC investigators also discovered in the course of their investigation that low-ranking Immigration Department personnel have criminal records.
“He is believed to be a member of an auto theft syndicate and has a history of gang robbery. In fact, he was the leader of the gang. The question here is how can someone with a criminal record be employed in the civil service,” he added . the source said.
Low-ranking immigration personnel were employed at the KP19 grade and were among 34 department staff members who were arrested for their alleged union involvement.
MACC investigators investigating the case were surprised to find that the officer, whose salary ranges from RM1,360 to RM4,052, owns a Rolls-Royce Phantom, Mustang, Range Rover and an Audi.
Meanwhile, MACC director of investigations Datuk Norazlan Mohd Razali said that of the 53 people arrested, 10 acted as “account mules” for the union.
“Investigations showed that their accounts were used to withhold profits from the union’s corrupt activities. Together with the department and the police, the MACC will ensure that those involved, including foreign worker agents, pay for their crime,” Norazlan said .
The union, whose activities were in high demand since the MCO was imposed in March, is believed to have provided “flying passport” services where agents collected passports from foreign workers and undocumented migrants whose social visiting passes had expired.
The passports would receive the union’s immigration entry and exit stamps to allow for the extension of permits, which is a violation of procedures as the owner of a travel document must be present during the immigration process.
The union is also said to have provided “one-stop services” at KLIA and KLIA2 for undocumented immigrants and foreigners who have been blacklisted into and out of the country.
The union is believed to charge between RM500 and RM6,000 for “counter services”.
The union, which has been in operation since 2017, is believed to have raised RM14.5 million.
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