ALOR GAJAH: A raid by Melaka Immigration Department brought business at a mamak restaurant in Kelemak here to an abrupt halt after four foreign workers were detained for alleged immigration offences.
The operation also sparked a dramatic chase when two Myanmar men fled into a nearby forest before they were tracked down and arrested about two kilometres from the point where they first escaped.
State Immigration Department's director Anirwan Fauzi said the integrated enforcement operation, which began at about 10am on Monday (July 13) was carried out following intelligence gathered on several premises suspected of employing and being operated by foreign nationals.
He said inspections resulted in the detention of 40 foreign nationals, aged between 20 and 40, comprising 32 men, six women and two boys aged seven and one.
"All are suspected of committing offences under the Immigration Act 1959/63, including not possessing valid travel documents, abusing the conditions of their passes and overstaying.
"Four of those detained were Indian nationals employed at a mamak restaurant in the area, including a roti canai maker," he said on Monday (July 13).
Anirwan said some of the foreigners attempted to flee upon realising the presence of enforcement officers.
"Some ran across the main road in the industrial area, putting their own safety at risk.
"Two Myanmar nationals suspected of abusing the conditions of their passes escaped into a nearby forest but were arrested after enforcement personnel pursued them for about two kilometres," he said.
Anirwan said further inspections uncovered a room within the mamak restaurant that was allegedly being used to provide online gambling credit top-up services.
He said the department also issued 29 witness summonses to three Malaysians to assist in the investigation.
He added all those detained were taken to the Immigration Department for further investigations and action under the Immigration Act 1959/63.
