Six nabbed for Labour Recalibration Programme fraud

Khairul Dzaimee (centre), flanked by Immigration Special Operations and Intelligence Division director Basri Othman (left) and deputy director Mohd Anas Muhamad Dzarib, with some of the seized passports at Friday's press conference. – YAP CHEE HONG/The Star

PUTRAJAYA: Two Bangladeshi men and their Malaysian wives have been arrested for allegedly operating a fraudulent outsourcing syndicate that made a profit of over RM2.04mil from the government’s Labour Recalibration Programme (RTK).

Immigration Department director-general Datuk Seri Khairul Dzaimee Daud said the four, as well as two other Bangladeshi men, were detained following raids at Jalan Lumut in Kuala Lumpur and Pandan Cahaya in Ampang, Selangor on Wednesday (June 8).

He said the syndicate worked behind the front of a phony labour agency which it used as a base of operations.

"We seized 488 passports from countries including Bangladesh (457), Indonesia (eight), India (eight), Pakistan (eight), Myanmar (six) and Nepal (one).

"We also seized RM38,308 in cash, two computers and 12 stamps believed to be used in the RTK activities," he told reporters here on Friday (June 10).

He said investigations revealed the syndicate charged each migrant worker between RM3,500 and RM4,200 to obtain a Temporary Working Visit Pass (PLKS) for various sectors through the programme.

"Based on these numbers, we estimate the syndicate has made at least RM2.04mil in profits so far.

"The mastermind, a Bangladeshi man aged 36, was one of the suspects arrested.

"Our investigations revealed he became a permanent resident in 2015 after he married a Malaysian woman," he said, adding that it was believed the syndicate had been active for at least two years.

He said the authorities were conducting further investigations to determine how many others were involved in its activities.

"We will also be checking our database and if any of these 488 passport holders have already obtained their PLKS, it will be revoked," he said.

Khairul Dzaimee said his department had never appointed any individual or agency to manage the RTK.

"We advise the public, especially employers and foreign workers, to only deal directly with the Immigration Department and not entertain any third party," he said.