Two local men detained for involvement in syndicate selling Malaysian passports

The Immigration Department detained two local men yesterday for suspicion of being involved in a syndicate selling Malaysian passports to foreigners in an operation in Puchong, Selangor.

Immigration Department Director-General Datuk Aloyah Mamat said RM70,000 in cash was confiscated from the two men, both aged 29.

"When they were arrested, they tried to bribe the immigration enforcement officers, so we have surrendered the case to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for further investigation," she told reporters here today.

She said the syndicate had been found to have an international network which organised the travel documents to certain countries.

"As such, the public are advised to be more careful in guarding their personal information so that it does not fall into the hands of irresponsible people," she said.

She said any individual found selling personal information to the syndicate could face action under the Immigration Act.

Aloyah said her department was conducting a study to improve the procedure for the issuance of passports in an effort to combat the syndicate.

Meanwhile, in a statement issued here today, the MACC said the two suspects who had been taken to its headquarters to assist in investigations, were expected to be released on bail today.