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PUTRAJAYA: The union that provides immigration “sealing facilities” to foreign workers and illegal immigrants is believed to have collected RM14.5 million in payments over its four years of operation.
Following the arrest of immigration officers during a special operation codenamed “Ops Selat”, bribery investigators discovered that the union has been in business since 2017 and is believed to have been making around RM3.6k per year. year.
Sources with knowledge of the investigation said that immigration officers involved in the union have been living a “good life,” thanks to money from their illegal activities.
“We believe that some had bought houses, cars, branded handbags, jewelry and land. Their lifestyle was so luxurious that some could even afford to buy a watch collection for RM 30,000 and a gaming computer for RM 18,000, “said a source close to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
The source said intelligence revealed that the union had provided its “air passport” and “setup desk” services to at least 30,000 foreign workers and illegal immigrants over the years.
Foreigners are those who have committed various crimes under the Immigration Law, including failure to present return airfare and lack of sufficient cash to enter the country.
“The intelligence showed that KLIA and KLIA2 are the easiest points for the movement of foreign workers and illegal immigrants.
“The MACC and the Immigration Department have taken action before, but somehow it didn’t scare or affect the rest,” the source said.
The source said that he also believes that the rotation system implemented by the department to prevent corrupt practices and abuse of power did little to solve the problem.
The source pointed out that the use of technology also did not help to curb the abuse among Immigration personnel as it was discovered that they had “acted” as if they had stamped passports belonging to foreigners when the fact is that they did not.
“Another hurdle investigators face is that there was no evidence of the activities as all transactions were made in cash and paid for by agents at different locations. There are also those who use third-party accounts for this purpose.
However, investigators managed to uncover the union and its activities by going undercover. This is how the authorities managed to catch the culprits, ”he said.
On Monday (November 16), the MACC paralyzed the union, whose services are said to be in high demand since the movement control order was enforced in March.
Investigators captured 46 people, 27 immigration officers, 14 foreign worker agents, and five civilians who acted as intermediaries in the union’s activities, during a special bombing in Putrajaya, Selangor, Johor Baru, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching.
The union was believed to have provided two types of services, including “air passport” services, where agents collected passports belonging to foreign workers and illegal immigrants whose social visiting passes have expired.
The passports will receive Immigration entry and exit stamps from the union to allow for the extension of the permits, which is a violation of procedure as the owner of a travel document must be present during the immigration process, said the source.
The other “service” involved “counter facilities” at KLIA and KLIA2 for illegal immigrants who have been blacklisted and whose visas have expired. For a fee of between RM500 and RM6,000, they were free to return to their home countries and re-enter Malaysia, according to sources.
Immigration Director General Datuk Khairul Dzaimee Daud said the department will not engage with staff who abuse their power for personal gain.
“Those involved must be prepared to face legal action and face imprisonment or dismissal, if convicted,” he said.
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