Immigration Dept nabs 13 workers in raid on Melaka hotel

MELAKA: The state Immigration Department nabbed 13 foreign workers when it raided a hotel here suspected of employing illegal foreign workers in Op Sapu on Tuesday (May 16).

Melaka Immigration director Anirwan Fauzee Mohd Aini said 13 foreign workers in the hotel and seven other suspected illegal immigrants were arrested in separate raids from 9.00am to 11pm

"All those arrested are aged between 20 and 48 years old, involving 17 Indonesians, two Myanmar nationals and one Bangladeshi out of 70 foreigners inspected.

"Among the locations targeted during the raids by the Enforcement Division of the state Immigration Department were food courts, luxury car wash centres and foreign workers housing," he said in a statement on Wednesday (May 17).

Anirwan said that as a result of a thorough inspection of a leading hotel, his raiding party found it was using the service of a manpower agent who supplied workers for housekeeping, cleaning and also restaurant waiters.

"A total of 41 foreign immigrant workers at the hotel were checked and 13 of them arrested were suspected of overstaying and also violating the conditions of the pass or work permit issued.

"The inspection also showed that the hotel had been using the services of these employees for about five months and during the raid, some tried to hide besides masquerading as locals,” he said.

In the meantime, he said that on immigration operations in other premises, there were foreigners who acted aggressively and tried to escape during raids without thinking about their own safety.

He said among other offences identified in the raids were entering and staying in Malaysia illegally and not having any identification documents and other offences under the Immigration Act 1959/63 (Act 155).

"A total of nine witness summons forms were also issued to the employer(s) responsible to assist in our investigation and further action,” he said. - Bernama