Immigration busts ‘Abang Bai’ document forging syndicate

The Immigration Department busted a document and stamp forging syndicate allegedly masterminded by a Pakistani national in a raid last night at a premises in Sri Gombak.

In the 8pm raid, several entry and exit stamps for KLIA and Sultan Abu Bakar Complex, a Singapore security stamp, stamps bearing the name of senior Immigration officers, international passports, temporary employment visit passes, and the soft copy of a special pass were found at the premises.

The 26-year-old alleged mastermind, nicknamed Abang Bai, and his three siblings, including a 13-year-old boy, were detained to facilitate investigations.

Immigration director-general Mustafar Ali said the syndicate had been active for the past 18 months with a regular clientele from the Klang Valley.

"The suspects were believed to have charged RM200 for customers who wished to obtain a special pass valid for 30 days, and RM100 for immigration stamps from the country’s main entry and exit points," he said in a statement here today.

Mustafar said the suspected mastermind would usually meet regular customers at a designated premises and “endorse” passports in a car or toilet at the premises.

Initial investigations revealed the man purchased the immigration stamps for RM1,000 each from a local, he added.

- Bernama