Latest news with #e-PLKS
The Star
3 days ago
- The Star
Held over fake work passes
Fraud mill: Several items were seized including 13 fake immigration stickers, including for Bangladesh, India, the United States, Indonesia and Pakistan, as well as a biometric passport front label for Bangladesh. Civil servants nabbed in raids targeting Klang Valley syndicate KUALA LUMPUR: Two civil servants were among three individuals detained in connection with selling fake e-temporary work permits for foreign workers (PLKS) following several raids in the Klang Valley. Immigration director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said the syndicate is believed to have charged RM11,000 per person and has been operating since late last year. It is learnt that the syndicate's modus operandi involved offering PLKS services to undocumented foreigners residing in the Klang Valley, he said. 'Investigations found that the details on the e-PLKS did not exist in the official immigration system. 'We carried out the raid in Maluri, Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya on Monday following two weeks of surveillance and intelligence gathering,' he said yesterday. Zakaria said the department's enforcement team detained two local women and a man aged between 40 and 43 suspected to be involved in the syndicate's operations. 'Initial investigations revealed that one of the women and the man are civil servants.' A total of 101 passports from multiple countries (74 Sri Lankan passports, 13 from Myanmar, six from Vietnam, two from Indonesia, two from Ghana, and one each from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Syria) were seized during the special operation, he added. The desktop computer, laptop and printer reportedly used in the process of making fake visas. 'My officers also seized two mobile phones, a copy of a Companies Commission of Malaysia registration document and a luxury vehicle believed to have been used by the syndicate.' Zakaria said two other individuals have been issued notices to assist in the investigation. In a separate operation, a Pakistani man, believed to be the mastermind behind a fake visa syndicate, was nabbed following raids at two locations along Jalan Ipoh on the same day. Zakaria said during the raids, which began at 11am on June 16, officers inspected premises where a man and two women, all locals, were found conducting transactions. 'A Pakistani man, believed to be the syndicate's mastermind, was also detained at the scene. 'Initial checks revealed that the foreign suspect did not possess any valid travel documents or permit to be in the country.' Several items were seized including 13 fake immigration stickers, including for Bangladesh, India, the United States, Indonesia and Pakistan, as well as a biometric passport front label for Bangladesh, he said. 'We also seized a desktop computer, laptop and printer used in the forgery process,' he added. Zakaria said investigations revealed that the syndicate was producing and selling counterfeit immigration stickers to undocumented migrants residing in Malaysia. 'These fake visas were sold at prices ranging between RM100 and RM120 each, depending on the country of origin,' he said.
The Star
4 days ago
- The Star
Fake work permit syndicate busted in Klang Valley raids, three nabbed
KUALA LUMPUR: Three individuals, including two civil servants, were detained in connection with selling fake e-temporary work permits for foreign workers (PLKS) following raids in the Klang Valley. The special operation was conducted at 6.42pm on Monday (June 16) at two separate locations in Maluri, Kuala Lumpur, and Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Immigration director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said acting on public information and two weeks of intelligence gathering, the department's enforcement team detained two local women and a man aged between 40 and 43 suspected to be involved in the syndicate's operations. "Initial investigations revealed that one of the women and the man arrested are civil servants. "Various items were seized including 101 passports from multiple countries (74 Sri Lankan passports, 13 from Myanmar, six from Vietnam, two from Indonesia, two from Ghana, and one each from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Syria), two mobile phones, a copy of a Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) registration document, and a luxury vehicle believed to have been used by the syndicate," he said in a statement on Wednesday (June 18). The syndicate's modus operandi involved offering PLKS services to undocumented foreigners residing in the Klang Valley, he said. "Investigations found that the details on the e-PLKS had been altered and did not exist in the official immigration system. "The syndicate is believed to have charged RM11,000 per person and had been operating since late 2024," he said. All those detained individuals are being investigated under Section 12(1)(f) of the Passport Act 1966 and have been brought to the department's headquarters in Putrajaya for further action. "Two other local individuals have been issued notices to assist in the investigation. "We are committed to taking firm action against any parties found violating the Immigration Act 1959/63, the Passport Act 1966, the Immigration Regulations 1963, and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (ATIPSOM)."
The Star
23-05-2025
- The Star
Immigration busts two syndicates offering forged documentation, fake passes
PETALING JAYA: Two seperate groups involved in the illegal distribution of Immigration documentation and creating fake passes have been busted. Immigration director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban, in a statement Friday (May 23), said that the first raid was conducted on May 20 at three locations along Jalan Ampang and Jalan Kia Peng. "Two weeks of surveillance led to the arrest of six suspects; five Chinese nationals and one from Myanmar. The suspects, aged between 28 and 41 years old, were known collectively as 'Ejen 001'. "Investigations showed that the mastermind, a Chinese national, had offered Immigration documentation services to Chinese nationals, such as social visits and special passes. Their operations were conducted behind the cover of a regular office. "Each service offered was charged from RM10,000 to RM15,000 and the group was found to have been in operation for the last six months," he said. A total of 23 Chinese passports, two Employment Pass (EP) cards and RM50,000 were seized during the raid. The second raid was conducted at 5.42pm in Jalan Raja Laut where three Bangladeshi men were arrested for suspected document forgery. The suspects, aged between 24 and 32 years old, were believed to have forged temporary employment visit passes (e-PLKS), with their group dubbed "Al Ameen". They would offer the forged documents to other Bangladeshis that did not have working passes to work in this country. Authorities found that the e-PLKS QR code would show other individuals or no information whatsoever when scanned. "This group hid their activities behind a handphone shop to prevent the authorities from finding them and has been operating for around six months. "They would charge between RM30 to RM70 for each forged e-PLKS," he said. The department also seized numerous passports, including 18 Bangladeshi ones. "All those arrested in the raids have been sent to the Putrajaya Immigration depot for further action. "Eight Malaysians have also been given notices to present themselves to the department to assist investigations," he said.
Barnama
21-05-2025
- Barnama
Father And Son Arrested Over Fake Immigration Document Racket In Chow Kit
KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 (Bernama) -- 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.
The Sun
21-05-2025
- The Sun
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.
