PUTRAJAYA: A senior immigration officer, believed to be the mastermind behind a counter setting syndicate, was among 60 individuals detained by graft busters.
Counter setting refers to foreigners who enter the country without proper document inspections by going through designated and predetermined lanes at entry points.
The officer, in his 40s and stationed at KL International Airport, has been identified as the key figure arranging bribes for other immigration officers involved in the syndicate.
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said the suspect was detained on Sept 5 after initially fleeing when pursued.
"We believe he had influence over 50 immigration officers. He served in the department for about 20 years," he told a press conference at the MACC headquarters on Wednesday (Sept 18).
Azam said the mastermind and three others are expected to be charged in the first week of October.
So far, a total of 60 individuals have been detained in Ops Pump, Ops Pump 2.0 and Ops Setting, which began on Aug 20, Azam said.
"Those detained include 49 immigration officers, a police officer, two agents, and eight mule account holders. We have opened 37 investigation papers and recorded the statements of 95 individuals," he said.
