PETALING JAYA: Six Immigration Department officers are among 12 individuals remanded by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to assist in investigations into an alleged syndicate that hacked the Malaysian Immigration System (MyIMMs).
The syndicate is believed to have facilitated the unlawful processing and approval of Temporary Employment Visit Passes (PLKS).
The six Immigration personnel comprise four enforcement officers and two officers from the department’s IT Division.
Also remanded were two company directors, three foreign nationals and a police officer.
Magistrate Ezrene Zakariah granted a three-day remand until July 31 for five male suspects, while another five male suspects and two female suspects were remanded for two days until July 30.
The remand orders were issued following an application by the MACC at the Putrajaya Magistrate's Court on Wednesday (July 29).
On Tuesday (July 28), the MACC Intelligence Division, in collaboration with the Immigration Department’s Intelligence Division, carried out a joint operation across the Klang Valley and Penang.
According to a source, 10 men and two women, aged between their 30s and 40s, were arrested between 2pm and 5pm on Tuesday at the MACC headquarters and the Immigration Department office in Penang.
“Preliminary investigations found that the syndicate paid bribes ranging from RM1,000 to RM6,000 for each PLKS application to Immigration officers, who allegedly helped secure approvals without following the proper procedures,” the source said.
The operation was also assisted by CyberSecurity Malaysia (CSM), Telekom Malaysia, the National Cyber Security Agency (Nacsa), and the MACC’s Technology Forensics Division.
During the operation, searches were conducted at company premises, the Immigration Department office in Penang and the department’s headquarters in Putrajaya.
The MACC also seized RM186,360 in cash, S$700 in cash, and jewellery worth RM15,700.
Mobile phones, laptops and other electronic devices estimated to be worth RM36,000 were also confiscated.
MACC chief commissioner Datuk Seri Abd Halim Aman, when contacted, confirmed the arrests and said the case is being investigated under Sections 17(a) and 16(a) of the MACC Act 2009.
