Indonesian Couple Nabbed In KL Over Immigration Forgery Ring
KUALA LUMPUR, June 19 (Bernama) -- An Indonesian husband and wife believed to be masterminds of an immigration document forgery syndicate were detained during a raid by Kuala Lumpur Immigration at a house in Kampung Pandan yesterday.
Kuala Lumpur Immigration director Mohammed Saupee Wan Yusoff said the couple were among five Indonesians aged 35 to 65 detained during the 8 pm 'Op Serkap' raid, which followed a month-long intelligence operation by 15 officers.
The syndicate, suspected to have been operating for three years, offered illegal services such as producing fake Malaysian passes for RM50, falsifying cross-border stamps involving Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore, as well as removing security ink passports from for RM20.
'These forged documents appear genuine to the untrained eye, but immigration officers can spot the fakes,' he told reporters at the Home Ministry Complex here today.
Preliminary investigations revealed the fake security stamps were likely sourced from an international network based in Jakarta, with payments made in cash and online.
Seized items included a laptop, printers, counterfeit embassy seals from several countries, RM4,750 in cash, a Mazda, 17 passports, and forged marriage and birth certificates.
None of the individuals arrested possessed valid travel documents and are being investigated under Sections 55D, 6(1)(c) and 15(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.
All suspects are currently held at an immigration detention depot pending further action.
Meanwhile, the Repatriation Programme 2.0 launched on May 19 has seen the return of 1,911 undocumented migrants from 14 countries, generating RM912,720 in revenue.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
4 hours ago
- The Sun
Victims of fraudulent haj package urge others to be cautious
NILAI: 'Let our painful experience be a lesson to others.' That is the heartfelt plea of Malaysian pilgrims who were left devastated after falling victim to a fraudulent haj package scam, which saw them stranded and denied entry into Makkah. Syarifah, a 57-year-old retiree from Batu Pahat, Johor, was among 47 pilgrims affected. She had hoped to perform the haj with her sister and brother-in-law, but their journey was cut short when they were barred from entering Makkah for not possessing official haj visas. 'We were unaware that we were using tourist visas. I advise others to be extremely careful and verify the credentials of any individual or agency offering haj packages—even if they are close friends,' she told reporters when met in Mantin today. She admitted that they failed to properly check the agency's background and had relied on word-of-mouth recommendations. 'We should have verified everything thoroughly with the proper authorities,' she said. Syarifah also revealed that she lost her entire Employees Provident Fund (EPF) savings to the scam. Despite this, she remains hopeful that one day she will have the opportunity to perform the haj through an official channel like Tabung Haji. Another victim, Said, 62, recalled the harrowing moments in Jeddah where the group was forced to trek through rough desert terrain in the dark without any guide or mutawwif. 'It felt like we were hiking. We were left to find our way with only the help of some locals. I never imagined I would have the strength to climb up and down those steep sandy hills,' he said. Said, who returned safely with his 63-year-old wife Nora, urged the public to only use licenced and Tabung Haji-recognised travel agencies for their pilgrimage. Previously, media reported that 47 Malaysians claimed to have been scammed by a local haj agent allegedly linked to a well-known religious figure. The three victims suffered a combined financial loss of RM81,000.
The Sun
4 hours ago
- The Sun
47 Malaysians scammed in fraudulent haj package scheme
NILAI: 'Let our painful experience be a lesson to others.' That is the heartfelt plea of Malaysian pilgrims who were left devastated after falling victim to a fraudulent haj package scam, which saw them stranded and denied entry into Makkah. Syarifah, a 57-year-old retiree from Batu Pahat, Johor, was among 47 pilgrims affected. She had hoped to perform the haj with her sister and brother-in-law, but their journey was cut short when they were barred from entering Makkah for not possessing official haj visas. 'We were unaware that we were using tourist visas. I advise others to be extremely careful and verify the credentials of any individual or agency offering haj packages—even if they are close friends,' she told reporters when met in Mantin today. She admitted that they failed to properly check the agency's background and had relied on word-of-mouth recommendations. 'We should have verified everything thoroughly with the proper authorities,' she said. Syarifah also revealed that she lost her entire Employees Provident Fund (EPF) savings to the scam. Despite this, she remains hopeful that one day she will have the opportunity to perform the haj through an official channel like Tabung Haji. Another victim, Said, 62, recalled the harrowing moments in Jeddah where the group was forced to trek through rough desert terrain in the dark without any guide or mutawwif. 'It felt like we were hiking. We were left to find our way with only the help of some locals. I never imagined I would have the strength to climb up and down those steep sandy hills,' he said. Said, who returned safely with his 63-year-old wife Nora, urged the public to only use licenced and Tabung Haji-recognised travel agencies for their pilgrimage. Previously, media reported that 47 Malaysians claimed to have been scammed by a local haj agent allegedly linked to a well-known religious figure. The three victims suffered a combined financial loss of RM81,000.
New Straits Times
5 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Cops probe Singapore-registered car for driving against traffic
JOHOR BARU: Police are investigating an incident involving a Singapore-registered vehicle travelling against traffic at Km55 of the Senai–Desaru Expressway yesterday. Kota Tinggi police chief Supt Yusof Othman said that the incident is believed to have occurred at around 11.31am yesterday, and a 12-second video was subsequently uploaded to the 'Community Roda Johor' Facebook page. "The white vehicle with the registration number SNT4298 was recorded driving against the traffic, endangering other road users," he said in a statement today, adding that the case was being investigated under Section 42(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for reckless and dangerous driving. He urged those with additional information about the incident to contact Traffic Enforcement Officer Insp Amirul Mustakim Mustaza at 017-479 3329 to assist in the investigation. "Police advise all road users always to stay vigilant and obey traffic laws for the safety of everyone," he added. – Bernama
