Immigration detains five Indonesian women for exploiting visually impaired PWDs in a begging syndicate operating in Kuala Lumpur.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Immigration Department detained five Indonesian women and uncovered a begging activity exploiting local visually impaired persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the capital, Immigration director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said today.
He said the arrests were made in an operation conducted by the department’s Intelligence and Special Operations Division around Jalan Dang Wangi and Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman beginning 10 pm yesterday after five Malaysians and five Indonesians, aged between 29 and 56, were inspected.
“Preliminary investigations found that the begging activity is believed to have been masterminded by Indonesians who exploited visually impaired local PWDs to gain public sympathy and solicit donations,” he said in a statement today.
He said checks had found that two of the five Indonesian women had abused their Temporary Employment Visit Passes (PLKS) issued for the domestic helper sector and Social Visit Passes.
“One of the women had overstayed, while the remaining two did not possess valid passes or travel documents to remain in the country,” he said.
Zakaria said the Indonesians were believed to have escorted the visually impaired individuals to public hotspots, particularly eateries at night, while posing as married couples to avoid detection by the authorities.
“Members of the public who made donations were given tissues in return to create the impression that they were purchasing goods. The activity is believed to have generated between RM100 and RM200 a night and has been operating since early January this year,” he said.
He said officers also seized three Indonesian passports, several items believed to have been used in the begging activities and RM159 in cash suspected to be proceeds from the activities.
“All those detained were believed to have committed offences under Section 15(1)(c) and Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 as well as Paragraph 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963 before being taken to an Immigration office for further action,” he added.
