MELAKA: A housewife who posed as a senior Immigration Department officer has been jailed for 12 months and fined RM8,000 by the Sessions Court in Alor Gajah here.
The 51-year-old accused, Norizan Hashim, pleaded guilty before Judge Kamarul Aris Kamalluddin on Tuesday (Oct 6) to a charge under Section 56(1)(l) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.
Melaka Immigration director Anirwan Fauzee Mohd Aini said the court also ordered Norizan, who was unrepresented, to serve another six months in jail if she failed to pay the fine.
The mother of five was arrested during the department's Ops Serkap operation at a cafe in Taman Malim Jaya at about 6pm on Sept 29.
At the time, she was meeting a Chinese national over what was believed to be a foreign worker's work pass application.
Media reports on Sept 30 said she allegedly used a fake Immigration uniform and identification to pass herself off as a senior director, collecting payments of up to RM6,000 to arrange work permits for foreign nationals.
Anirwan Fauzee said the department viewed attempts to impersonate its officers or falsify documents relating to its services seriously.
"Such acts not only violate the law but can also mislead the public and undermine confidence in the department's integrity and credibility," he said on Tuesday (Oct 6).
He urged the public to remain vigilant when dealing with individuals claiming to be Immigration officers.
