The 10, six women and four men, aged between 33 and 53, were picked up at the Kuching International Airport, Pending immigration office and the Semuja detention depot, Serian at 1.30pm and 4.30pm today.
According to a source, all the suspects were believed to have accepted bribes ranging from RM200 and RM5,000 to protect illegal immigrants.
“Instead of enforcing the law on illegal immigrants they were abusing their powers by not taking action against foreigners who entered Sarawak illegally and took up jobs.
“MACC also seized RM10,000 in cash from one of the suspects,” he told Bernama.
MACC investigations director Simi Abd Ghani when contacted confirmed the arrests.
“There is a possibility more arrests will be made in connection with this case,” he said.
It is understood all the suspects would be brought to the Kuching Magistrate’s Court for remand orders against them tomorrow.
Simi said the entry of illegal immigrants could not only threaten public order and national security but also contribute to an increase in the crime rate in Sarawak.
This latest round of arrests comes in the wake of the MACC hauling in several police officers, company operators and illegal immigrants in several locations in Sarawak last month.
On Monday, the MACC detained 12 enforcement personnel from various government agencies on suspicion of corruption, at two locations in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur.
Two were police inspectors who headed police stations, five rank and file police personnel, four Fire and Rescue Department personnel and the other a Kajang Municipal Council officer.