Syndicate faking Malaysian passports for foreigners busted
The Star/Asia News Network
Saturday, Dec 29, 2012
SHAH ALAM - A syndicate which buys Malaysian passports and sells them to foreigners has been busted.
Selangor Immigration Department enforcement chief Karimah Hussein said the syndicate paid RM500 (S$199) to Malaysians for the loan of a MyKad or birth certificate to facilitate the application for a Malaysian passport.
“They will look for someone who resembles their foreign clients, and offer them money in exchange for their MyKad or birth certificate.
“The client will then use the borrowed document to apply for a Malaysian passport at our immigration offices,” she said yesterday.
These activities were detected at the Immigration offices in Shah Alam, Kelana Jaya, Puchong and Port Klang, she said.
A total of 18 cases were uncovered in the state, with nine already brought to court with the remaining under investigation.
All cases involved Sri Lankan nationals, with the exception of one Bangladeshi man. Yesterday, a 56-year-old man was charged at the Sepang Sessions court for trying to pull off the act at the Kelana Jaya Immigration office.
If found guilty, one can be fined a maximum of RM50,000, jailed for five years, or both, under Section 12A of the Passport Act.
“Our staff are trained to tell imposters from genuine applicants,” said Karimah.
On Dec 12, a 12-year-old Sri Lankan boy tried to pass off as a 10-year-old Malaysian at the Puchong Immigration office.
“Our staff were suspicious as he looked much older than 10.
“The father listed in the birth certificate used to apply for the passport will be charged,” she said.
In the case of the Bangladeshi man, he was immediately exposed as he was using the MyKad of a deceased man.
