KUALA LUMPUR: Ten Bangladeshi men were detained in connection with offering illegal medical services following raids in ten locations in the city.
The suspects would offer uncertified medical services through Bangladeshi "doctors".
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Immigration department director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said the raids were conducted jointly with the Health Ministry in Jalan Tun Tan Siew Sin, Leboh Pudu dan Jalan Silang at about 11.45am on Thursday (Jan 23).
"We conducted surveillance for about two weeks before conducting the raids.
"We detained 10 Bangladeshi men aged between 31 and 50 years old," he said in a statement on Friday (Jan 24).
Various items were seized including medical equipment, cash, and 502 types of medicines worth a total RM265,192.00, he said.
"The suspects would offer uncertified medical services by Bangladeshi doctors, catering only for Bangladeshi nationals.
"Medicines, which did not have Health Ministry approval, were brought into the country by Bangladesh nationals who came as tourists.
"They were each paid between RM200 and RM500.
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"The syndicate operated in the guise of restaurants and sundry shops to evade detection by the authorities," he said.
Zakaria said each patient would be charged between RM50 and RM200 for treatment and medicines.
"We believe they have been operating for about a year," he added.
One of the suspects detained had a work permit for the service sector, six has work permits for the construction sector, two had overstayed and one did not have any travel documents or passes, he said.
"We are investigating under Section 13(a) of the Poisons Act 1952 along with immigration offences.
"All suspects were brought to the Immigration headquarters in Putrajaya for further action.
"We have also issued noticed to two Bangladeshi men and six local woman to come to the headquarters to assist with the investigation," Zakaria said.