Immigration Officer Nabbed Over Alleged Bribes To Free Detainees

---

 
Selangor MACC has confirmed the arrest of the immigration officer, who is said to have worked alone.PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has arrested an immigration officer for allegedly receiving bribes in exchange for the release of detainees, FMT has learnt.
A well-placed source said Selangor MACC arrested the officer for allegedly asking for a RM22,000 bribe to release two Chinese nationals who were detained last month for utilising fake stamps to enter and exit the country.
The 26-year-old officer, who is with the KLIA operations division, was detained at 7.45pm yesterday after he was said to have received the bribe at a petrol station near the airport.
The source said this case is not related to the Ops Selat sting operation, which has seen 39 immigration officers detained, adding that this officer worked alone and had allegedly done this frequently.
“The corruption at KLIA has become a pandemic and is worrying. This is an issue of national safety. Corrupt officers on duty ease the entry and exit of problematic undocumented migrants,” the source said.
“There’s no longer any need to go through illegal routes or to brave rough seas to enter Malaysia. It’s better to enter through KLIA or klia2. It’s easier, faster and safer.”
The source said the officer was caught following the arrest of a 40-year-old “agent”, who was found with the money, at noon yesterday.
After interrogations, the “agent” revealed that the money was for a KLIA immigration officer, the source said.
“Their modus operandi is that immigration officers will give these agents the details of any Chinese national detained for immigration offences at KLIA. The agent’s job is to contact their families in China to ask for bribes for the detainees’ release.
“The families in China will then call their friends in Malaysia to help prepare the money and hand it over to the agent,” the source added.
Selangor MACC director Alias Salim confirmed the arrest and said the case is being investigated under Section 16 of the MACC Act. - FMT

---