Immigration Dept cripples fake E-Kad syndicate in Sabah
‘Datuk Seri’ said to be mastermind behind syndicate, with illegal immigrants charged between RM1,100 and RM1,200 per card.
Immigration director-general Mustafar Ali said the 12-hour operation in Kota Kinabalu which began at noon on Monday led to the arrests of 14 people, including three Filipinos, and the seizure of 60 items.
“This ‘Datuk Seri’ hides his activities behind a private company in Kota Kinabalu,” he said in a statement.
Under the syndicate, illegal immigrants were charged between RM1,100 and RM1,200 per card, which supposedly allows them to reside in Sabah as a registered foreign worker.
Mustafar said the registration was done by a company headed by the “Datuk Seri” while the printing and distribution of the cards was done by appointed agents in Kuala Lumpur.
“The Immigration Department reiterates that there is no such E-Kad programme in Sabah. We never appointed any party or individual to implement it,” he added.
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Those arrested were taken to the Kota Kinabalu Immigration Detention Depot for further investigation.