Immigration Dept asst director arrested over human smuggling activities

JOHOR BARU: Police have arrested a senior ranked female Johor Immigration Department officer on suspicion of being involved in human smuggling activities.

State police chief Comm Datuk Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said the 50-year-old officer, who holds the rank of assistant director at an Immigration Department office complex here, was arrested on Wednesday (July 1).

“We detained the suspect in the afternoon at her workplace following information police received through interrogation on three Immigration Department officers who were arrested on June 23.

“Police believe the modus operandi used by this syndicate is through providing fake immigration stamps to manage the smuggling of Indonesian nationals, whose social visit pass expired prior to the movement control order (MCO),” he added.

Comm Ayob said this during a press conference held at the Johor police headquarters here on Friday (July 3).

He added that the suspect would be investigated under Section 26A of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act (Atipsom) 2007 through investigation procedures under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma) 2012.

“So far, we have arrested 23 enforcement officers for their involvement in human smuggling activities along the east coast area of Johor,” he said.

Comm Ayob said among those arrested there were 14 policemen, five from the army and four Immigration officers.

“This is a warning to officers who think they are above the law just because of their rank and position within an enforcement agency.

“We do not care about your rank because if you are involved in illegal activities, in particular human smuggling, the police will come after you,” he added. - Star