Immigration officer has RM9m in bank

KUALA LUMPUR: One of the seven Immigration officers arrested under the Internal Security Act (ISA) last month has RM9 million in a foreign bank account, believed to be proceeds from human trafficking activities.

The officer, who holds the rank of deputy assistant director, was found to have kept the money in a bank account in his wife's name in Thailand. Police are now corresponding with their counterparts there to freeze the account.

A source familiar with the case revealed that the officer, in his 40s, had amassed the fortune when he was posted at the Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) in Sepang.

The officer and six of his men were arrested by police last month under the ISA for acts deemed to be a threat to national security.

The deputy assistant director was found to be living a lavish lifestyle, owning several valuable properties and luxury cars. But the big find came when police discovered the bank account.

It is learnt that the officer's wife is a Thai national and police are now trying to ascertain if her husband had bought any other properties or cars in her name. Investigations revealed that the officer was linked to human trafficking syndicates when he was based at LCCT.

He would then instruct certain Immigration officers at both LCCT and the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, who were in his pay, to allow these illegal immigrants, including ones with questionable documents and stamps to either enter or exit Malaysia freely, putting the country's security at risk.

Six of his men, also detained under the ISA, had between RM400,000 and RM600,000 in their bank accounts.

Investigations also revealed that the six owned properties in prime areas of the Klang Valley and luxury cars.

Police have invoked the Anti-Money Laundering Act to freeze their assets and bank accounts.

Last month, police arrested the seven Immigration officers at the LCCT and KLIA. Two foreigners, an Indian and a Pakistani, were also detained. Later, they were found to be the masterminds who arranged the movements of illegals in and out of the country through these two checkpoints.

The New Straits Times learnt that police and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission have identified several other Immigration officers and civilians involved in the smuggling of foreigners into the country.

"Shortly after the first operation, police began focusing on the syndicates and it was then we discovered more civil servants were also involved," said a source close to the investigations.

Following that operation, it was also revealed that MACC undercover officers have been stationed at several entry and exit points to curb human trafficking and other smuggling activities.

Malaysia is currently on the Tier 2 watchlist of the Trafficking in Persons Report which is released annually by the US State Department. This was an improvement from last year when Malaysia was on Tier 3.

The Tier 2 watchlist is when the country made significant efforts with the minimum standards of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act.