MACC detains 10 immigration officers

KUCHING: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) detained 10 immigration officers here today for allegedly taking bribes to enable illegal immigrants to slip into the state without travel documents and work permits.
The suspects who are made up of six female and four male immigration officers aged between 33 and 53 were arrested in several locations including the Sarawak Immigration Department, Kuching International Airport and the Semuja immigration detention depot in Serian in the operation conducted between 1.30pm and 4.30pm.
The suspects are believed to have received bribes of between RM200 and RM5,000 to facilitate the entry of illegal immigrants and workers.
Sources said the MACC also seized RM10,000 from a suspect and the operation was a follow-up to MACC's recent arrest of police personnel and business operators who had committed similar offences.
MACC director of investigations Datuk Simi Abd Ghani when contacted confirmed the arrests.
He said more arrests on those involved in the case is possible.
"The influx of illegal immigrants does not only threaten public order and national security but also contributes to the rise in crimes in the state," he said.
On Monday, two police inspectors, both who are officers-in-charge of police stations (OCS) were among 12 enforcement personnel arrested by MACC for allegedly accepting bribes from illegal massage centres to look the other way on the activities in two districts in Selangor.
Apart from the police inspectors who are heads of two police stations in Selangor, the others were five rank-and-file police personnel, four firemen and a Kajang municipal council officer.
They allegedly took bribes of up to RM10,000 a month and allowed the centres to carry out its business unlicensed.
The suspects had also not taken action on illegal foreign workers and fire hazards found at the premises.