HULU SELANGOR: A woman is behind the running of an immigration stamp forgery syndicate targeting overstaying foreigners who are desperate to obtain fake stamps on their passports for entry and exit or to renew their visit pass.
Selangor police chief Datuk Shazeli Kahar said investigations show that the syndicate has been operating from the start of this year using a legitimate shopfront in Shah Alam as a cover to attract foreigners who are charged RM500 for each fake stamp.
"The premises belong to a local woman who is reportedly also the mother-in-law of a footballer. The woman is suspected of helping her husband, a foreigner, both of whom were also arrested previously," he said at a press conference here on Monday (Oct 6).
He stated that all the suspects, including four foreign men and a local woman aged 39 to 47, who were arrested last week, are still in remand custody to assist in the investigation.
"Police have sent the seized documents and fake stamps to the Malaysian Immigration Department for further verification. We are also investigating the involvement of any other party in the immigration system," he said.
According to Shazeli, the syndicate's activities were uncovered as a result of intelligence from the Commercial Crime Investigation Division of the Gombak district police headquarters, which found that the fake stamps were being used to avoid legal action after violating the legal period of stay in the country.
He said the case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.
On Oct 5, police arrested five individuals in two raids in Gombak and Shah Alam, and seized several documents and equipment believed to be used for immigration stamp forgery. - Bernama
