BUTTERWORTH: Two Bangladeshis have been arrested for allegedly producing fake Immigration Department ePasses by editing existing templates on laptops and replacing the original holders' details.
Penang Immigration director Syamsul Fitry Ahmad said more than 50 suspected forged documents were found during a raid at a rented house in Simpang Ampat at about 10pm on Thursday (Nov 12).
"One of the suspects had a forged ePass bearing his own particulars, while we also found modified passes belonging to others, foreign passports and numerous fake documents ready for distribution," he said at a press conference at the department's headquarters in Seberang Jaya on Friday (Nov 13).
The suspects, aged 23 and 32 years old, were arrested following public complaints and intelligence gathering.
Syamsul said the fake passes looked almost identical to genuine ones and could fool employers and inexperienced personnel, but were not registered in the department's database.
"To an ordinary person, they might look genuine because ePass documents can be printed.
"However, we can verify their authenticity through the QR code and our records," he said.
The ePass is issued to foreign workers under the Visit Pass (Temporary Employment) category and requires annual renewal.
"The syndicate allegedly targeted Bangladeshis and Pakistanis without valid documents or who had overstayed, charging RM50 to RM100 per fake document.
"However, evidence of payments suggested some transactions could have reached RM500 to RM1,000.
"Laptops, mobile phones, printers and three vehicles were also seized.
"One suspect had a valid construction sector pass while the other had no valid pass to remain in Malaysia," added Syamsul.
Both have been remanded and are being investigated under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and Passports Act 1966.
