PUTRAJAYA: Another seven people have been arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission over suspicion of colluding with a syndicate to smuggle foreigners through the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said the seven were arrested on Tuesday in Kuala Lumpur.
"I was briefed that the seven involved three Immigration Department officers, one policeman and two agents," he told reporters at the MACC headquarters here today.
Earlier, Azam said they were also looking for an Immigration Department officer who allegedly fled following their operations at KLIA.
The officer in question did not hold a high rank but was believed to have had significant influence over other personnel at the airport.
Azam said they also seized several luxury vehicles owned by Immigration Department officers currently under investigation.
On Aug 21, the MACC dismantled a syndicate responsible for smuggling foreign nationals from Myanmar, Bangladesh, Indonesia, India, Pakistan, and Nepal into Malaysia through unofficial entry points.
This operation allegedly involved several enforcement officers who acted as informants, facilitating entry for these individuals without following required inspection procedures.
Foreign nationals are supposed to comply with Immigration Circular No. 4, 2021, which mandates presenting a valid passport or documentation, holding a visa, having a valid return ticket, possessing sufficient funds for their stay, and providing accommodation details.
However, these requirements were bypassed through the special counters used by the syndicate.