Father and son arrested over fake immigration document racket in Chow Kit
KUALA LUMPUR: A father and son have been arrested for allegedly running a document forgery syndicate out of a watch and photograph shop in Chow Kit, producing fake immigration credentials for foreign nationals.
Kuala Lumpur Immigration Department director Wan Mohammed Saupee Wan Yusoff said the local pair, aged 60 and 34, were detained around 7 pm on Tuesday during a raid known as 'Op Serkap', following a month-long surveillance operation and public tip-offs.
The suspects are accused of offering falsified Temporary Employment Visit Passes (e-PLKS), altered immigration i-Kads and counterfeit cards from the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB).
Clients reportedly placed orders via WhatsApp, submitted details and paid online or in cash. Each document costs between RM60 and RM140 and could be completed within a day.
'The shop's location in a busy area popular with migrant workers helped the syndicate attract clients, including those from outside the Klang Valley, through a network of agents who may also have been deceived,' he told reporters at the Kuala Lumpur Immigration headquarters today.
Officers seized a desktop computer, a high-tech card printer capable of producing hologram stickers, closed-circuit television (CCTV) equipment, RM4,000 in cash and roughly 50 counterfeit documents.
These included fake PLKS slips, CIDB cards and identity cards resembling Malaysia's MyKad and MyKid, which are typically issued by the National Registration Department (JPN).
'This is a serious offence that poses a national security risk, as these documents could allow individuals to enter and work in the country illegally,' Wan Mohammed Saupee said.
The suspects are being investigated under Sections 55D and 56(1)(i) of the Immigration Act 1959/63. One of the men has a previous immigration offence on record.
Between January and May 20, the department conducted 272 operations across Kuala Lumpur, screening 3,587 individuals and arresting 1,789 undocumented migrants, according to Wan Mohammed Saupee.
He said authorities also detained 68 employers and opened 1,551 investigation papers, collecting RM4.59 million in compound fines, primarily for employing undocumented workers and abusing immigration passes.
The department has also received 96 applications under the relaunched Migrant Repatriation Programme 2.0 (PRM 2.0), which allows undocumented migrants to return to their home countries voluntarily, he added.
The initiative, which resumed on Monday, has so far collected RM37,920 in fines and processing fees.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
'Adoption' of scammer ends in RM1.6mil loss for Penang retiree
GEORGE TOWN: A private sector retiree here has lost RM1.6mil in an online investment scam to a suspect he adopted as his "younger brother". Penang police chief Comm Datuk Hamzah Ahmad said the Central Seberang Prai Commercial Crime Investigation Department received a complaint from a 57-year-old man about the scam on Sunday (June 22). "In March, the victim came into contact on WhatsApp with an individual who claimed to be from Hong Kong. "After three weeks of getting to know each other, the victim took the suspect as his adopted younger brother," he said in a statement on Monday (June 23) The suspect then invited the victim to join an online investment platform called FXCM, which promised a 10% return in a short period. After expressing his interest, the victim was told to download an application, register as a member, and invest. Comm Hamzah said the victim made an initial investment of US$2,000 (RM8,716) on March 18 and received a return of RM10,023. He said believing that the investment was legitimate and profitable, the victim proceeded to make 36 money transfers into 20 different bank accounts until June 14, totalling RM1,680,464. He said the victim only realised it was a scam when he tried to withdraw his profits through the app but failed. Comm Hamzah said the victim was also asked to make additional payments to process the withdrawal. "Feeling deceived, the victim then lodged a police report," he said. The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.
The Star
3 hours ago
- The Star
Extradition hearing for Indonesian businessman Tannos begins in Singapore
Indonesian Paulus Tannos, also known as Tjhin Thian Po, was arrested in Singapore on Jan 17. - SCREENGRAB FROM SINGAPORE: A court hearing is taking place here that will determine whether an Indonesian businessman in a high-profile corruption case will be extradited to his home country. The hearing on Monday (June 23) regarding Paulus Tannos, also known as Tjhin Thian Po, is Singapore's first such proceeding under its extradition treaty with Indonesia. Tannos has been implicated in a major graft scandal involving the Indonesian government's issuing of electronic ID card – known as e-KTP – allegedly causing state losses of about 2.3 trillion rupiah (S$187 million). The Indonesian fugitive, who is believed to have been living in Singapore since 2017, faces one charge of corruption under Indonesia law which is punishable with a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. The crux of the hearing is to determine whether there is enough evidence to support the corruption charge Tannos is facing, so he can be sent back to Indonesia. In extradition hearings, the State does not have to prove the fugitive's guilt or secure a conviction. It only has to show that there is enough evidence for the fugitive to face trial if his acts had taken place in Singapore. Delivering the State's opening statement, Deputy Solicitor-General Vincent Leow said the State would rely on evidence submitted by Indonesian authorities. Tannos was the president and director of technology company PT Sandipala Arthaputra, which was a member of the PNRI Consortium – a grouping of companies that won the e-KTP tender in 2011. DSG Leow said under the alleged corruption scheme, the consortium paid 'commitment fees' to officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs of Indonesia (MOHA), which was responsible for the e-KTP tender. Bribes were also allegedly given to members of the House of Representatives of Indonesia, otherwise known as DPR-RI, who appropriated and allocated the government's budget for the project. The gratification amounted to 10 per cent of the total project value, split equally amongst MOHA officials and DPR-RI. According to Indonesian authorities, Tannos eventually paid US$530,000 to a MOHA officer and approximately US$3,799,842 to former Indonesian politician Setya Novanto through the latter's associate. 'The Indonesian authorities' position is that the payment of these 'commitment fees' resulted in the manipulation of the decision-making process regarding the e-KTP project and tender, and that the PNRI Consortium won the tender through unlawful methods,' said DSG Leow. Chief Special Investigator Alvin Tang of the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) – the State's only witness – took the stand to give evidence on how he arrested Tannos and brought him to the State Courts. Meanwhile, Tannos' defence lawyer Bachoo Mohan Singh argued that there were about 100 pages in the formal extradition request that were added after the stipulated deadline, and should hence be thrown out. Tannos' other defence lawyer, Suang Wijaya, also objected to the admission of documents prepared by Indonesian authorities as he said they were not 'duly authenticated'. For example, an English document said to be the translation of Tannos' arrest warrant did not have a stamp with official authorisation, said Mr Wijaya. The hearing continues till June 25. Tannos has reportedly been on Indonesia's fugitive list since Oct 19, 2021. He was arrested on Jan 17 by CPIB, and Indonesia put in a formal extradition request on Feb 24. The extradition treaty between Singapore and Indonesia took effect on March 21, 2024. It grants extradition for a list of offences, including corruption, money laundering and bribery, and can be retrospectively applied to crimes committed up to 18 years ago. - The Straits Times/ANN
Daily Express
6 hours ago
- Daily Express
Lawyers question NFA on Naimah's police report over Bloomberg article
Published on: Monday, June 23, 2025 Published on: Mon, Jun 23, 2025 By: FMT Reporters Text Size: Naimah Khalid filed a police report last September over a Bloomberg article on MACC's investigations into her late husband Daim Zainuddin. PETALING JAYA: Lawyers for Naimah Khalid, the widow of former finance minister Daim Zainuddin, have expressed disappointment with the move to classify her police report against Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief Azam Baki as requiring no further action (NFA). The report, filed last September, was related to a Bloomberg article concerning MACC's investigations into Daim before his death on November 13. Lawyers Rajesh Nagarajan and Sachpreetraj Singh Sohanpal said they received a letter dated June 21 informing them that the case had been classified as NFA. 'The decision is unacceptable, outrageous and contrary to good governance and the rule of law,' they said in a statement today. They also noted that the NFA decision came shortly after Naimah filed a complaint with the Independent Police Conduct Commission over what she viewed as delays in investigating her original report. 'No details have been given of who was questioned, what steps were taken, or the reasons for the NFA,' they said. Advertisement They also said that the case was closed 'quietly' despite its public interest value. 'This decision reflects badly on the police and Attorney-General's Chambers, and confirms the erosion of institutional independence under the Madani administration. 'We will not be silenced or deflected from our pursuit of justice. Malaysians deserve institutions that serve the public, not those in power,' they said. Citing sources, Bloomberg reported that Azam had told agency officials that instructions to investigate Daim, as well as former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his sons, came from Anwar himself. Naimah said the Bloomberg report showed that the charges against her and Daim were a conspiracy to target Anwar's political opponents by 'subverting the institutions of state and enforcement bodies'. Both the Prime Minister's Office and MACC have denied the claims in the Bloomberg report. Daim was charged in January last year with failing to declare assets to MACC, including interests in 38 companies, 19 land plots in five states, six properties, two unit trust accounts, and seven luxury vehicles. After his death last November, the prosecution withdrew the charges and the court granted an order discharging and acquitting him. However, the anti-graft agency said that investigations under the MACC Act 2009 and the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act would proceed. Naimah, who also faces an asset declaration charge, is accused of failing to declare her ownership in various companies, several plots of land in Kuala Lumpur and Penang, and two vehicles. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
