RM200 per passport: Border officers arrested over 'flying passport' racket | New Straits Times
'Flying Passport' Racket Busted: Border Officers Nabbed at Johor-Singapore Checkpoint
Johor Bahru panas again! This time, it's not about traffic jams. Four enforcement officers are under arrest for allegedly accepting bribes at the Johor-Singapore border, specifically at the motorcycle lane. Imagine the jam they could cause!
According to sources within the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), the suspects, aged between their 20s and 40s, were picked up at the Johor MACC office earlier today. Seems like the MACC is serious about cleaning up the border.
The modus operandi? It’s called a 'flying passport' scheme. Imagine paying someone to get your passport stamped without you even being there. Sounds like something out of a movie, but apparently, it's happening here in Malaysia.
"Two main suspects were initially apprehended by the Compliance Unit of the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (MCBA) during an inspection at the counter," said a source. They were later handed over to MACC for further investigation. Two more officers were later arrested on suspicion of being involved.
MCBA CIQ BSI Commander Roszita Dim confirmed the arrest of two officers at the CIQ Complex at Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (BSI) last night, connected to the same scheme. The operation started after suspicious activity was detected at the vehicle zone checkpoint around 7.30pm.
Investigations revealed questionable entries in the visitor log, with foreign nationals previously identified as problematic visitors being logged in by one officer.
During the arrest, authorities seized 14 foreign passports, four mobile phones, and approximately RM2,800 in cash. This is serious stuff! Seems like they were making a tidy sum.
"Initial investigations suggest that the cash and mobile phones are linked to bribery transactions involving the 'flying passport' scheme. For each passport stamped without the physical presence of the owner, the suspects allegedly received around RM200," the source revealed.
Johor MACC deputy director of operations Hairul Ilham Hamzah confirmed the arrests and stated that the case is being investigated under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act 2009. All suspects will be brought before the Johor Bahru Court for a remand application.
So, next time you're riding through the Johor-Singapore checkpoint, remember this story. Hopefully, this bust will make things smoother for everyone.
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