Datuk, wife among 15 nabbed in illegal foreign maid recruitment operation

KUALA LUMPUR: A Datuk and his wife were among 15 individuals detained in connection with an illegal foreign maid recruitment syndicate.

Immigration director-general Datuk Seri Khairul Dzaimee Daud said 13 Indonesian women aged between 22 and 47 were also detained in the raid at a house in Shah Alam on Feb 16.

"Investigations showed that the Indonesian women entered the country posing as tourists and using the social visit pass (PLS).

"The house where the raid was conducted was the home of the married couple and it was also used as accommodation for the Indonesian women," he said in a statement on Sunday (Feb 26).

"The Indonesian women would be supplied by the couple as maids and cleaners," he said.

"Each woman was charged between RM3,500 and RM4,500 as a fee for their entry into the country, which will be deducted from their salary.

"We believe the married couple managed the entry of the women and their subsequent employments as maids illegally with the help of agents in Indonesia," he added.

The 66-year-old Datuk and 56-year-old Datin were being investigated under Section 55E of the Immigration Act for letting undocumented foreigners enter the country or stay at premises owned by them, Khairul Dzaimee said.

"The Indonesian women are being investigated for multiple Immigration violations.

"The case will be referred to the Labour Department under the Human Resource Ministry for hiring and supplying workers without a proper license," he said.

Khairul Dzaimee said Immigration will monitor illegal promotions of foreign maids and cleaners including on social media sites or by illegal agents.

"We hope the people will be wary of this illegal activity and always refer to Immigration or the Labour Department," he said. - Star