PUTRAJAYA: A 30-year-old Bangladeshi man has been detained for producing fake e-temporary work permits for foreign workers (PLKS).
Under the guise of a carpet shop at Jalan Tun Tan Siew Sin in Kuala Lumpur, the suspect has been operating for the past six months, selling the fake documents and raking in profits close to RM50,000.
His lucrative operation came to an end when a team of Immigration officers raided the shop at about 9.30am on Tuesday (May 13).
Immigration director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said the suspect charged RM50 per customer to print the fake e-PLKS slips.
"We believe the suspect also forged other documents and letters of businesses.
"We also seized various foreign passports and fake e-PLKS slips from the shop," he told a press conference at the department headquarters on Wednesday (May 14).
The suspect's customers consisted of those with problems on their e-PLKS applications, he said.
"He took advantage of their misfortune by conning them as the fake e-PLKS slips would not pass inspection by Immigration officers.
"We have a specific device to scan the QR code on the slips and QR codes on fake e-PLKS are not functional thus, the holders won't pass inspections," he added.
The suspect charged each customer RM50 as the cost to produce the fake documents was not expensive, Zakaria said.
"He only needs A4 paper, a computer and a printer. It is much cheaper than producing fake PLKS stickers," he said.
In another case, three Indian nationals were detained for being fake foreign worker agents, Zakaria said.
"The trio, aged between 39 and 64 years old, were detained at Jalan Masjid India on the same day of the previous operation.
"They had a lot of foreign passports in their possession," he said.
Zakaria said Immigration officers seized various items in both raids, including 504 foreign passports, four PCs, four printers, several fake e-PLKS slips, 40 i-Kad, and RM94,322 cash.
"Initial investigation revealed both syndicates received customers based on word of mouth.
"They avoid using social media to evade the authorities," he said.
Zakaria said he is not ruling out the possiblity that employers also conspired to get the services of the syndicates based on the huge number of foreign passports seized.
"We are investigating the matter under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and the Passport Act 1966.
"We also issued summoned to six locals to come forward as witnesses into be cases," he said.
Zakaria said the department will conduct continuous operations to apprehend those who violated immigration laws.
"We will take action without fear or favour, regardless of nationalities," he said.
