MACC remands 33 individuals, in massive immigration graft sweep

 

PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has obtained remand orders against 33 individuals, including 10 enforcement officers, over suspected corruption and immigration-related offences linked to foreign nationals.

The suspects comprise enforcement personnel, civil servants, local individuals and foreign nationals. They are being investigated for various offences under the Immigration Act, including staying in the country without valid travel documents and abusing social visit passes for employment purposes.

The arrests were made under a coordinated operation carried out on Thursday (July 9) by the MACC Intelligence Division and state MACC offices in four states —Putrajaya under Ops Layer, Selangor (Ops Dalang), Negri Sembilan (Ops Raider) and Melaka (Ops Genuine).

Sources said the suspects, aged between their 20s and 50s, were detained between 10am and 8pm on Wednesday (July 8) when they turned up to give statements at four MACC offices involved in the operation.

“Initial investigations found that the suspects are believed to have committed the offences between 2021 and 2026, involving various breaches under the Immigration Act.

“As for the 10 enforcement officers, they are believed to have received bribes in return for not taking action against company workers who had committed offences under the Immigration Act, as well as for issuing visas, passes and permits without following the prescribed procedures,” the source said.

Sources added that some of the suspects were also believed to have submitted documents containing false particulars in applications to obtain foreign worker quotas.

The MACC had been carrying out intelligence-gathering since June last year, targeting 43 individuals across the four states believed to be linked to the syndicate involving foreign nationals.

A total of 38 individuals were detained in the operation, although five were later released on MACC bail.

At the Putrajaya Magistrate’s Court, Magistrate Ezrene Zakariah granted remand until July 13 for six suspects.

In Selangor, Magistrate Wan Noora Nisa Ngadirin allowed 14 suspects to be remanded until July 12 at Magistrate’s Court 3 in the Shah Alam Court Complex.

At the Seremban Magistrate’s Court, Magistrate Nurul Azuin Mohd Talhah ordered five suspects to be remanded until July 12, two suspects for five days until July 13, and another two suspects for one day.

Meanwhile, at the Magistrate’s Court in Ayer Keroh, Melaka, Magistrate Nur Afiqah Radhiah Zainurin granted remand until July 15 for four suspects.

When contacted, MACC chief commissioner Datuk Seri Abd Halim Aman confirmed the arrests and said the case is being investigated under Sections 16(b)(A), 17(a), 17(b) and 18 of the MACC Act 2009.

He also did not rule out further arrests as investigations continue. - Star